Telling my story helped me heal anyway.
I pray that this is true for Dr, Christine Blasey Ford, no matter how the vote in the US Senate goes.
When I hear women say that if Ford drank at a party she "deserved whatever she got" I wonder what happened to them when they were young, and how much pain is buried deep so they can say such a thing about a fifteen year old girl.
Let's not call each other dehumanizing names, even in our own minds. Because if we can only work for fairness by making those who disagree with us something less than fellow human beings, on some level we lose the shared humanity that will let us go forward together.
When I was a child, I was taught that Jesus said, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Even then I knew it was a revolutionary idea and something very hard to do. I also knew it did not mean being passive, but meant participating fully in shaping our shared world.
I pray we can find ways to stop injustice and work for real peace without putting the other out of our hearts. I know it's hard. If it wasn't hard I wouldn't have to pray about it.
When I told my story of being beaten and raped as a young woman, my mother said I was "just looking for attention."
Telling my story helped me heal anyway.
~Oriah "Mountain Dreamer" House
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Your mother was wrong. You were brave and very courageous to tell your story.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who was repeatedly raped by her father when she was a teenager, her mother simply looked the other way. My friend is still in therapy although she is now 35 years old. If she were my daughter I would have cut off the father's balls when he slept and let him die in his sleep. I know that is harsh and if I were to do that I would be no better, I would be a murderer. But those rapists are not the victims stupid lawyers make pretend they are.
Chapeau Oriah for being able to pray for such "beings". I can't do that. Although I know only prayer can make a difference. Maybe I get there one day. Thank you for speaking your truth always.
Lots of Love your way, Sabine x
Thank you Sabine. Some days I can't do it either- so I don't, but I do it when I can. And starting with rapists might be a little like starting weight lifting with 1000 lb weights. Some days I try to just say, "May you be well and free from suffering" when someone cuts me off in traffic! Sadness and prayers for your friend- may she find ease and healing, may she be free from suffering and feel held in love. Many blessings and much love, Oriah
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