If you’re curious about the people you lead and serve, and you want to understand why they do what they do, I want to hand you some new glasses with which to see them. These new glasses will open our eyes to a more covert reality.
To illustrate, imagine you are at a movie theater, excitedly waiting to see the next installment of your favorite movie series. Before entering the theater, with giant popcorn in hand, the staff hands you a pair of goofy plastic sunglasses, and you head to your seat. The movie begins to play, and you place the glasses over your eyes. Suddenly, the screen jumps out at you. If you take the glasses off, it looks like a standard film, but when you put them on, there is more depth and intricacy to your viewing experience.
It is the same with people. Trauma can be difficult to spot as it is good at hiding in plain sight. Most people don’t wear their trauma on their sleeves, though some do. It is usually more nuanced in its expression. As Jesus’ followers, we desire to love people as Jesus did. I would offer that to love in this way, we must see people for who they are and not who they present on the surface. This is called being “trauma-informed.”
Yes, you did read that right. I used the word “Trauma,” a concept Millennials won’t soon let us forget (it’s okay to say that because I am one.) Perhaps that word hits you in some kind of way because of its prevalence in culture. Or maybe you feel relieved that someone is speaking your native language. Chances are, we have all likely interacted with someone who has experienced trauma, and this should lead us to ask the question, “What is trauma?”
What is Trauma?
Trauma, as described by expert Bessel Van Der Kolk is, “Something that happens to you that makes you so upset that it overwhelms you. Trauma is not the event but how you respond to the event. Trauma changes a person’s brain. The traumatized person continues to react to things as if they are in danger.”1
Trauma manifests in various ways: anxiety, perfectionism, decision-making difficulties, emotional numbness, or anger, among others. However, at its core, trauma stems from a deep-seated need for physical, emotional, and spiritual safety. Being trauma-informed involves communicating and acting in a way that fosters this sense of security, acknowledging that trauma profoundly impacts how an individual perceives and responds to the world.
A Christ-like Response
We sometimes underestimate the depth of human struggles, albeit unintentionally. But even if unintentional, downplaying someone’s hurtful experience can be harmful. In times of crisis, hurting people need more than clichés and Bible verses. Yes, you shouldn’t shy away from sharing the truth of God’s Word, but a trauma-informed response necessarily offers genuine support and understanding, too.
Jesus saw people like this. When I think back on what the scriptures tell us about the life of Jesus, I see a man that people felt safe around. I am reminded of the disciples who did life with Jesus. They dined with him, traveled with him, and asked him countless questions, which I am sure became onerous. Jesus wasn’t hurried and so focused on his agenda of teaching about the Kingdom of God that he neglected or emotionally hurt his closest friends. He took his time and patiently explained things to them. He responded to them when they had a physical need, saving their lives numerous times.
Steps in A Trauma-Informed Direction
From my own experience with trauma, I have become passionate about helping Jesus’ followers see people through the lens of trauma. More specifically, my trauma is connected to the church and having more than one experience in the past with unhealthy, controlling, and dishonest church leaders. I am just one of many with such experiences. It is no secret that many young adults today are deconstructing their faith because of a traumatizing experience within the church. If more followers of Jesus put on trauma-informed glasses, we could be part of the solution and begin to repair some of the damage that has already been done.
Trauma and the work of repairing trauma is something I believe God cares a lot about. The first step for you and me to begin doing this critical work is to inform ourselves about trauma. A great resource is the book The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk. Another resource, if you want to learn about religious trauma, is When Religion Hurts You by Laura E. Anderson. In addition to these resources, I encourage you to remind yourself daily to put on your new glasses and even become aware of your own trauma. This last step is best done with a therapist. If we make it our goal to accomplish these things, I know we will be an essential conduit of spiritual and emotional healing.
- Bessel Van Der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma (New York: Viking, 2014), 66. ↩︎
