Voice. Power. Connection.

By Andrea Bryant

The global pandemic has affected each person in some way. Something has changed. When there is change, there is loss. Something that once was part of life is no longer the same. The pandemic is not only a public health crisis, but it has brought to light the concurrent mental health crisis. The number of individuals struggling with mental illnesses, including anxiety and depression, has increased. The pandemic has also brought an increase in substance abuse, domestic violence, and suicides.

“It’s like we’re all floating on the ocean, holding on our own inner tubes. We’re all floating around, but people don’t seem to know that we’re all sinking. Some are sinking faster than others, but we’re all sinking.” (1)

 

The losses are great. The pain may seem unbearable.

Does anyone see me?

Does anyone hear me?

Does anyone care?

 

These are the questions that are asked internally in minds and hearts. Yet, they remain unspoken. We may never know who around us are asking these questions. We may never know how many are asking these questions. Chances are the number is greater than we can imagine. These questions are deeply emotional and theological. They are the cries of the hearts all around us. Do we take the time to notice them? Do we hear the silent cries? 

“We are most fully human, most fully ourselves, when we see someone in the truth of his or her experience and are moved to respond with kindness and care.” (2)

 

Question: In light of the issues brought up by the pandemic, how can we respond and care those around us?

1. Voice

A voice is a means of expression. Most commonly, and for the purposes here, a voice is spoken language, but a voice can flow through other mediums such as art and music as well. There is power in a voice to express emotion in the form of stories, prayers, laments, and praise. When a person’s voice goes unheard, this expression is silenced. The shame attached to mental health in society and the church has worked to discourage this expression. This can have significant effects on a person’s well-being. 

Allow space for others to share their experience or tell their story, if they want to.  Listen to their experience. Be present and really listen. Resist the urge to offer advice or scripture. Listen without minimizing, giving a silver lining, or attempting to fix anything. Each person has their own individual story to tell. Some stories may have yet to be told. Each person has a voice and their voice deserves to be heard. There can be comfort in giving a voice to their experience.

2. Power

Empower others and give choices. There are many resources available that may be helpful. Providing information to make informed decisions can be one way of empowering someone. This may look different depending on the particular situation. There is no “one size fits all.” In the midst of fear and anxiety, there may be a feeling of helplessness. There may not seem to be a way forward. Providing options and choices may also be helpful.

“As Christians, we are all called to the borderlands-the borderlands where people are on the brink of physical, intellectual, spiritual, psychological, and social death. And we are called for these bones to rise. This is answering the call to life and, in turn, calling others to life.” (2)

3. Connection

Provide connection. Connection in this sense would include connecting to creation, God, self, and others. These four dimensions are important to each person in some way. Connecting with creation could mean taking a walk outside. Connecting with God could be in the form of prayer, praise, or lament. Connecting with oneself may include reflective activities or interests that are life-giving and meaningful. Connecting with others could be through a phone call, a letter, or by meeting together. 

Nature offers a beautiful analogy about connection through the root systems of trees. For example, the Redwood trees are very tall trees. However, their root systems are extremely shallow. One may wonder how such tall trees are able to stand with such shallow root systems. This is a good question. The roots of the redwood tree intertwine with the roots of other redwood trees. As they intertwine, the trees are connected with each other and gain support from their connectedness.

 

“Survival is a communal act. When we hear the call to life, we must answer it. When we know that call is muted for others, we must find new ways to communicate it to them.” (2)

As with flowers of the field, may we stand together, lift our voices, and bloom.

 

Sources:

1. Bowler, Kate. Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved. (New York: Random House, 2018), 65.

2. Patrick B. Reyes, Nobody Cries When We Die (Saint Louis: Chalice Press, 2016), 18, 169, 175.

3. Featured image source: “Yell at the Sun ‘Til Your Voices Are Hoarse” by Velvet Elevator (Pandy Farmer) is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0