Today I work up thinking about Texas
Like many of you I too have been seeing all the devastation and destruction of such vibrant cities. Therefore, my thoughts and prayers have been with Texas and now Louisiana. Since Harvey came swirling in with such force and dropping 51 inches of rain so quickly on Texas. It’s amazing to me there were not more lives taken. I look around my home, and it’s intact, clean, no flooding or even any rain. Since I live in Southern California, we sure could use some rain nevertheless. I know that I am blessed from where I sit today.
Tragedy
Not that tragedy doesn’t strike here it does, but not in such a profound manner as this hurricane has hit. I know I felt the same sadness when Hurricane Katrine waltz in devastating the gulf coast or the Twin Towers collapsing into such a fiery mess. I remember the terrible school shooting happening in Columbine and Sand Hook and other places. Or even in my own backyard the San Bernardino shooting. I am not listing these tragic events to make you sad or even depressed. I only list them as a remembrance to the human spirit and individuals that lost their lives. The people have healed and much has been rebuilt, but the scars are still there.
A few years ago, my family and I went to the Rome, Italy. Rome is steep with history, culture, and art. We did the touristy attractions like the forum, colosseum, Trevi Fountain and St Peter’s Basilica. However, the best tour by far was the walking food tour. We got to walk through the city and see where people lived as early as 1 AD. One of the buildings we visited had noticeable scars from past flooding, civil wars, and fires. Each event leaving various blemishes on its wall. Our guide told us about a flood that occurred in 118 AD that flooded the entire 3 story building. At that time, the building was Jewish Synagogue. A few decades later our guide pointed to a spot where holes and rough concrete stood, and he told us about the civil war and the plagues that occurred in 250 AD when the building was used as a school. Our guide’s last story about this building was a massive fire that lasted over a week around 450 AD when the building was used as a bakery. The same building that today was still standing and was a winery in 2014.
Human Spirit
So why the history lesson? Thinking of the people of Texas reminded me of Rome and the great human spirit that is deep within in all of us. The spirit to rebuild, the spirit to pull together to help each other. The humanness of neighbors helping neighbors, those rescuing other with their boats, that as people we have been able to work together and put all other differences aside at least for now to attend to the trouble. If you have seen the pictures coming from Houston, people are carrying others on their backs, Louisiana sent in the Cajun Navy, a group of volunteer boat owner that lived through Katrina; they are armed with cell phones and Social Media and were picking up hundreds of stranded people in Texas. Even the local and State governments gave them the go ahead because “this hurricane was just too big.” People are helping people because it’s the right thing to do.
Scars
In our therapy practice, we too see suffering and pain daily. We may be the only beacon of hope to our clients, or other may have family and friends to help with the healing process. As healers, we want to help others become free from pain and anguish. Texas will rebuild and heal as all cities facing disaster do, but there will be scars. Scars are what we, therapists help with. Our community of healers has been deployed, and many other will be in the area helping with cleanup for many months. My heart continues goes out to Texas and the Southern coast. I too have been keeping in touch with my therapist friends in Houston and surrounding areas. Sometimes to share a laugh or joke or cry with them when the overwhelm takes over. It is just important for us just to be there to help those wounds turn into scars.
Viktor E. Frankl writes in his book Man’s Search for Meaning, “… and as such, I also bear witness to the unexpected extent to which man is capable of defying and braving even the worst conditions conceivable.”
May God Bless Texas, scars and all.
© 2017 All Rights Reserved Therapist Practice In a Box, Sherry Shockey-Pope