We Spoke of Heavy Things

Sometimes I get such beautiful glimpses of what the Body of Christ is supposed to look like. Today in my Interpersonal Skills Training small group, we shared emotional stories. These were stories that were hard to talk about, memories that were painful to recall. We were transparent and vulnerable. We let each other see through the cracks in our armor to the soft flesh underneath. We spoke of heavy things.

Normally that kind of vulnerability is scary to me. As someone who takes empathy way too far, I tend to feel what others are feeling, and many times that leaves me feeling overwhelmed. When there is too much transparency in a room, I pull back. I shrink under the weight of such heavy emotions. But today was different. I was able to listen to stories of hurt and respond, even if that response was to simply sit and share the weight of that emotion. Sometimes that is all that is needed. I don’t always need someone to address my problems and help me find solutions. Sometimes I just want someone who will sit and share the weight with me. Someone who chooses to feel even a tiny percentage of what I am feeling. And we were able to do that for each other today. It was different from what I am used to, but in such a significant way. Because this felt more real. It felt good to talk about the dark things, the hard things. It felt good to share in each other’s burdens.

I think that’s part of what Christian community is supposed to look like. As a result of that small group experience, I realized that was the kind of interaction and conversation I want to have in all of my relationships. I want to be surrounded by the kind of people who value vulnerability as a stepping stone to growth. I want to have the kind of relationships that leave room for talking about brokenness. I crave that kind of raw honesty. And I see now how blessed I am to be in the kind of environment that fosters those relationships. And that is a beautiful glimpse of the Body.