On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.’

John 20:19-23

Jesus was humiliated, tortured and killed. His resurrected body still held the scars and trauma of what he endured. Yet his words to his disciples after he showed his ultimate power was on repentance and forgiveness. In preaching this new way not only in his words, but by being the example of hope and renewal, he makes me believe that chains can be broken, stories can pivot and indeed, God will make all things new.

Breaking generational pain & trauma is a spiritual heavenly task. It requires the strength to face the wrong that has been passed down and in our body and mind. It requires the courage to see those we love and hate for who they are — humans that have become instruments of pain because of evil systems. It requires sacrifice because it involves forgiveness, but know that this kind of vulnerability lays bricks to a road for those who come after us. It requires faith to believe that God, too, desires and roots in hope.

In the midst of a global unveiling and purging, I hope that we map out a better way, for ourselves and for everyone who comes in contact with us.

• What pain has affected your ability to trust?
• What does trust feel and look like?
• Give yourself permission to be enraged and justified in your anger.
• Give yourself space to grieve what was stolen from you.
• Slowly invite forgiveness in, a bit at a time, with its pauses and hesitancies.
• Imagine the tensions in your body softening, the voices in your head quieting, your feelings bubbling up and going and evolving.
• Believe in a newness that is already here and still coming into form.

When you do the brave, loving work, God is at work with you.