Responding to trauma
As religious leaders, we cannot ignore what the events surrounding the confirmation hearings are doing, especially to our bodies.
So the Brett Kavanaugh vote is expected to go through, and I’m feeling all the emotions. Do I mind that a conservative judge is being sworn in to the Supreme Court? I deplore Kavanaugh’s record on torture, his opinions on presidential authority, and so many other things, but I certainly didn’t expect a liberal judge, since Republicans are in control of the House and the Senate. This is what happens when one party wins the House, Senate, and Presidency.
Yet, even with these political realities, as religious leaders, we cannot ignore what the events surrounding the confirmation hearings are doing, especially to our bodies.
Emotions are contagious. We are emotionally in tune with one another. Our brains are wired that way. When we sing a peaceful hymn, we can feel the ripples of peace. When we are at a horror movie, we feed off one another's fear. If we’re at a hateful rally, we can feel the anger and resentment. I accessed all these emotions this week.
