How Can We Heal our Divides?
This week, please welcome a guest writer on my blog: Tambry Harris, an author, trauma/abuse survivor advocate, and founder of the organization Going Forward: Survivors to Thrivers. Tambry is part of a new and important book collection that released this month, How to Heal Our Divides Volume Two: An Abundance of Opportunities (available on Amazon here ). The book features chapters from more than 25 different contributors (including Tambry) to build awareness of voices and organizations taking real action to address division issues, highlighting tangible efforts that solve problems in effective and practical ways. We all know deep divides are hurting our communities, our churches, and our world, whether over racial, political, theological, or other issues. Here, Tambry reflects on what we can do.—Jessica
By Tambry Harris (guest post)
What divides come to mind when you hear, “Heal Our Divides?” Political? Racial? Religious? Immigration? Vaccination? All the above?
We all know serious divides exist. The question is, “Why do people of faith need to be involved in healing the things that divide us?”
Wisdom from Archbishop Óscar Romero of El Salvador (1917-1980) answers the question. He said, “If there were love of neighbor, there would be no terrorism, no repression, no selfishness, none of such cruel inequalities in society, no abductions, no crimes. Love sums up the law. Not only that, it gives a Christian meaning to all human relations.”
As Christians, we are told to reach out to the marginalized, the one who is different from us and to be agents of change. When the divides are deep and difficult, Jesus calls us to care for all people, not only the easy to love. We must be willing to grow, learn and expand our knowledge of the divides.
Last Labor Day, I attended the Wild Goose Festival, an art, music, and story-driven festival grounded in faith-inspired social justice and attended by nearly 5000 people. It was here, through a series of “God moments,” I met author Brian Allain, producer of “How to Heal Our Divides.” Brian desires to highlight organizations taking real action to address complex issues and heal divides in effective and practical ways. His goal is to demonstrate how everyone can help make the world a better place. As an author and activist, I was excited to explore this effort and its possible intersection with my own work.
Here is a bit about me. Four years ago, I found myself called to support people who have experienced trauma and abuse—specifically, sexual abuse and domestic violence. Through personal and professional experience, I know that survivors are often left with limiting beliefs that keep them in unhealthy patterns. As a result, we do not live the full life that God wants for us. Through my organization, Going Forward: Survivors to Thrivers (GFS2T), we provide hope and healing to survivors on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis while also working with individuals to overcome unhealthy patterns and promote newly claimed lives.
Brian acknowledged that addressing sexual abuse and domestic violence was not included in his first book. I was incredibly honored to be able to write a chapter representing my organization and the work we do and be among other visionaries and activists trying to make a difference in this world.
The divide between trauma and abuse may not be immediately apparent. There are two different ways to look at it. One divide is between the victim and society. Sadly, this is the one area where the victim is shamed. Often family and friends do not know how to approach the victim's violation and would instead, want the topic to remain hidden. As a result, victims are left alone in silence.
The second divide is created within ourselves. Victims of trauma and abuse often separate their minds from their bodies and spirits because their bodies have been violated and their spirits broken.
My chapter in How to Heal Our Divides Volume Two: An Abundance of Opportunities explores how the GFS2T organization addresses both divides. It also highlights my original book, “Awakening the Light: A Survivors to Thrivers Going-Forward Story,” as a resource for survivors and supporters. (You can learn more about that book in the Q&A I did on Jessica’s Shining the Light blog last year, here.)
I believe people of faith should see healing our divides as part of what Jesus called us to do in order to love each other. Together we can change the culture that silences innocent victims and keeps them suffering.
Then shame, secrecy and silence can give way to hope, healing and health.
If you feel called to make a difference, I invite you to examine How to Heal Our Divides Volume Two and learn about tangible efforts that decrease divides in practical ways.
Here’s to healing!
Tambry Harris is the founder of Going Forward: Survivors to Thrivers organization and author of Awakening the Light: A Survivors to Thrivers Going-Forward Story (American Book Fest’s 2020 Best Book Finalist). Her M.A. in psychology; certifications in coaching, spiritual direction, change management and diversity; and her 20 years of experience provide a grounded foundation to serve beautiful survivor souls. She is a member of SouthPark Church, a United Methodist church in Charlotte. Learn more at survivorstothrivers.com.
