Processing Vicarious Trauma

Firstly I want to acknowledge that some experience vicarious trauma on hearing of lock down restrictions                                                                                                                                     and enforcement.

Much depends on how the restrictions are communicated.

•  weather announced harshly or with empathy.
• weather a limited time  eg two weeks and residents can make plans  or weather it sounds indefinate

 how well the restrictions are clear or  imprecise lacking detail

  eg "no singing" 

      only the production crew and Pastor at church

      restrictions on Weddings, Funerals and family gatherings

          produced vicarious trauma for many

       and fed "conspiracy theories"  by their insensitivity

    and some rules came accross as secular minds dismissing religious observance

    to other outright persecution.

   This is the only time in modern history when Churches were not open for prayer

        during a time of national crisis.

   

How did I respond?

• by focusing on infection control being the legitimate objective
• by socialising at 2m wearing a face mask
• wearing mask and gloves to the Supermarket and sanatising groceries at home
•  I get it. there is a virus and it spreads easily it can stay on surfaces for hours.

      We are people, created in God's image.

      Last time we were caught unaware.   fear pervaded.

      there was a lot of aloneness.

      My Christian response.

•        This time let us edify one another.
•        Let us spend more time in prayer, in reading the Bible and in Praise.
•        Let's live stream and hold zoom meetings
•        let us hold to the promise in Romans 8 v 28  for God uses everything for good,

                                    even that which was intended for evil.

                      God can turn social control on it's head

            eg Have we become too dependant on "church" ?

         When our first love and devotion ought to be towards God Himself.

         Have we been spending more time in fellowship with each other than with the Lord?

         Have we relied on listening to our Preachers when we ought to be searching the scriptures ourselves?

       

 

 

How we manage during restrictions depends on many factors such as:

• what support is available
• access to food and supplies
• how many live in a home or apartment and access to private outdoor areas

Music is an important part of life

We may not be able to sing in Church or  theatres

 But we can watch You Tube videos of music.

 

Whilst we watch our local Church on live stream

I Church surf on Sundays to see Services

in Parishes I once Served in

and to see Ministries in other parts of Sydney

or other cities.

   My last service for Sunday night

is 11pm overseas.

  I do stop for meals

and breaks

and my afternoon sleep.

One strategy I used in 2020

was to watch

Musical Satyre

which I found through

You Tube searches

 

It's more fun to look it up

and make your selection

than for me to list them

 

  What does the Bible say to us during pandemic restrictions?

   What verses strengthen our resiliance?

 

    ( references to be added)
 

•       Hope in God ( Psalm 42)

 

• theme - in a time of loneliness  to take in being ingrafted into Christ

             God is our heavenly Father

 

• Love casts out fear  ( and trauma)  1 John 4 v 18

 

• Let us be comforted for Jesus Christ said He would send the comforter. John 14 v 15ff
• Jesus said "Peace I leave with you"  John 14 v 27

     My heart was heavy.  I resolve to turn to the Lord and claim His peace during these troubling times.

 

 

more to come

 

email   nathan@aussiesurvivors.com