“How well I understand the feeling of the artist who painted the picture of the corpse of a once wealthy man and entitled it, Sic transit gloria mundi – So passes the glory of this world. The material things of this world no longer excited me nor would they ever again.” Corrie Ten Boom – Tramp For The Lord
Corrie goes on to say, “It was during this time that I visited Haarlem, the town where I had spent more than fifty years of my life. It was late in the evening as I walked through the streets. Waiting before a traffic light, I had a strange feeling that the people should fall in line five by five as in the concentration camp. Instead, they chatted about insignificant things and when the light changed, they moved on without anyone shouting at them. Walking the streets that night, however, I felt growing in me a tremendous desire to tell all men, especially those in bondage to material things, of the One who can set us free from all prisons: Jesus.”
Corrie shares a reflection about one night when her sister Betsie and she were laying side by side, holding their coats over their heads. Betsie’s body had wasted away so that there was only thin skin stretched over her brittle bones. Betsie told Corrie, God showed me, that after the war we must give to the Germans that which they now try to take away from us; our love for Jesus.”
As I read and meditated on these words I felt somewhat ashamed but jealous of this woman’s zeal for the “eternal things”. My own issues seemed so minute to what Corrie had walked through. She had endured so much and come out of her crisis, trauma and grief with a desire to win souls to Jesus. As I prayed and asked to Lord to help me have more compassion for the lost souls of this world, “I felt Him say, “My love, my passion for the lost is available to all. My strength is made perfect in your weakness.
Whatever trauma or crisis we walk through, whatever the loss, whatever we spend can not be taken with us into eternity. Only what we give to others in the name of the Lord will become eternal. This should be our focus in our recovery or when we find ourselves released from trauma or crisis. Overcoming and giving to others, sharing the love and plan of salvation to those who are lost, so they can have eternal life.
Those who are helping others recover from trauma or crisis, remember these words;
Jesus’ ministry was one of helping people achieve fullness of life and assisting them in developing their ability to deal with the problems, conflicts and burdens of life. Perhaps what’s really important for the counselor— whether professional or layman— is to consider why Jesus was so effective in His ministry. As we look at His personal life, the answer is evident.
For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it (John 12: 49). I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do (John 17: 4).
References:
Wright, H. Norman (2011-12-09). The Complete Guide to Crisis & Trauma Counseling: What to Do and Say When It Matters Most! (p. 24). Gospel Light. Kindle Edition.
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