-
Symbolic Unfoldment: Why Kids Need Bible Stories
The term symbolic unfoldment refers to how stories and symbols can bring revelation about ourselves, God, and others. For example, Genesis begins with two trees in a garden. One brings life, and the other, death. Later, we find Jesus executed on a tree. That tree, which spells his death, is our path to life. Finally, the Bible ends with a tree whose leaves heal the nations. Other references to trees lie scattered throughout the Bible, offering touchpoints of metaphor. The righteous man planted like a tree by the water in Psalm 1 comes to mind. So what do all these trees have to do with us? Trees show us the…
-
Knowing Shalom: Restoring Hope
Knowing Shalom: Restoring Hope I learned something about hope today from a coworker. He talked about a behavioral experiment on rats. First, scientists placed rats in a bucket of water to see how long they would swim. Generally, they would swim for about 15 minutes before giving up. Then the scientists added another layer to the experiment. They pulled the rats out of the water after several minutes and dried them off. Then they put the poor rats back in the bucket. This time they could swim for 60 hours. The difference? Hope. The rats could last much longer if they knew that survival and rescue were an option. It is…
-
Knowing Shalom: Moving in Wholeness
Wholeness seems elusive to those who have experienced trauma. And truthfully, many of us define ourselves by what we lack, whether education, health, money, or any number of desirables. Worse, trauma or abuse leave us feeling robbed of our innocence, a sense of well-being, or perhaps our homes and families. But the shalom of the Lord includes a sense of wholeness. When the King of the universe dwells within us, he fills our spirits. Accessing his presence within ourselves is the absolute key to healing and restoration. He gives us so many ways to access him, though we don’t always recognize them. From reading the Bible to sitting under the…
Healing Through Art & Words
