House of Pain

House of Pain

I was reading this article called "House of Pain" on RZIM webpage and it really moved and enlightened me. In our counseling theories, we have been taught to be the "secure base" (ie a person who will provide another person a sense of safety and security when he/she is going through a crisis) for the people we counsel. We are suppose to be taking in, identifying with and validating their pain. Even though I wouldn't ignore or disregard the fact that counsellors do need to facilitate people to work through their pain, we are definitely not their saviours nor the ones who would ultimately be able to provide the healing and rest they truly need.

When we think we are the saviours of the world, we feel overly burdened, emotionally drained, overwhelmed and anxious for the people we meet till the point that we feel apathetic and just want to run away from the people (with their problems) we meet. I truly can identify with the author's feeling of wanting to run away. Perhaps when I reach this point at times, I can almost conclude that I am facing all these thinking that I am God, being able to carry the weight of the burdens and pain of the world.

God is calling me to let go and let God. I know this quote sounds cliche, but perhaps, it is staying connected to and depending on God through these pains that will allow us to reflect the one whom we belong to. And when we do so, perhaps the people around us will truly get a glimpse of who they truly need. It is my prayer that the people I encounter will ask more about the God that I encounter each day. I pray that I will reflect Jesus Christ more as I encounter Him more.

I now realize that Christianity is really not about doing more or being a better person, it is about encountering Christ and in doing so, imitating Him more and more.