The therapy of Lent and definition of self-compassion remind me of Cathy Loerzel’s U diagram in which to have the Easter morning experience of resurrection and healing of our trauma, we must slide to the bottom of the U and relive our trauma- akin to Jesus in the wilderness or His Good Friday experience on the cross- but with the presence of an empathetic witness to show us kindness and compassion.
I have attended Ash Wednesday services many times, but I do not recall thinking about the implication you have laid out here. I am always wondering what people mean when they say to be kind to yourself. If you are being ruthlessly honest with yourself and naming what the sin is, it may not feel kind (shame may surface) but if the naming it with specificity and paticularity (as Allender teaches) stops the pain . . isn't THAT being kind to yourself? Hmm . . I suppose if you are naming so that you will feel shame, that could be unkind. That sounds like leaning into mental illness.
Kelley mentioned Cathy Loerzel's U diagram. I have to be sitting face to face in that lecture with others so I can ask them "what did she mean?" immediately after she finishes talking. I can hold onto it in the context of race, an Asian woman in a room full of white people walks into the room at the bottom of the U, where we have to fall into the U. I supposed you could be a woman in a room of mostly men and you would be at the bottom.
And I don't think I would have ever linked ruthless naming with humility. Actually that defines humility well I think.
I'm going to forward this to my people. Did your head hurt after you finished writing this? I was leading a conversation last night about gazing at Jesus or rather His gazing at us. Maybe I'll send this to that group. I think it's part of the conversation.
The therapy of Lent and definition of self-compassion remind me of Cathy Loerzel’s U diagram in which to have the Easter morning experience of resurrection and healing of our trauma, we must slide to the bottom of the U and relive our trauma- akin to Jesus in the wilderness or His Good Friday experience on the cross- but with the presence of an empathetic witness to show us kindness and compassion.
this is helpful. I never would have linked to Cathy's diagram, but when I re-read in that context it was easier to get what Geoff is saying.
I have attended Ash Wednesday services many times, but I do not recall thinking about the implication you have laid out here. I am always wondering what people mean when they say to be kind to yourself. If you are being ruthlessly honest with yourself and naming what the sin is, it may not feel kind (shame may surface) but if the naming it with specificity and paticularity (as Allender teaches) stops the pain . . isn't THAT being kind to yourself? Hmm . . I suppose if you are naming so that you will feel shame, that could be unkind. That sounds like leaning into mental illness.
Kelley mentioned Cathy Loerzel's U diagram. I have to be sitting face to face in that lecture with others so I can ask them "what did she mean?" immediately after she finishes talking. I can hold onto it in the context of race, an Asian woman in a room full of white people walks into the room at the bottom of the U, where we have to fall into the U. I supposed you could be a woman in a room of mostly men and you would be at the bottom.
And I don't think I would have ever linked ruthless naming with humility. Actually that defines humility well I think.
I'm going to forward this to my people. Did your head hurt after you finished writing this? I was leading a conversation last night about gazing at Jesus or rather His gazing at us. Maybe I'll send this to that group. I think it's part of the conversation.
I don't know if I understand what you are talking about, but it made me think about Ash Wednesday. "Ashes symbolize grief, grief for our sin."
"Remember that you are dust and unto dust you shall return."