Heart and Soul

Binding Broken Hearts is the title of my latest project. I feel this is more than a way to divert my attention when I don't want to clean house - it is a way I can turn some of my challenges into a blessing.  Last Sunday I was doing a little topic search in the Bible to see what it had to say about broken hearts and this is what I found:

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty unto the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. (Isaiah 61:1)

Here is another version, from Luke 4:18:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

I normally think of the miracles of Christ as related to miraculous healing from physical wounds and defects.  These verses, particularly the one from Luke which was used by Jesus to announce the his mission among those who knew him in Nazareth, speak more of spiritual wounds and broken hearts than they do of broken bodies.  As I think about my own desire to heal unseen wounds, does that mean this calling is directed through the Spirit of God?  

Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men. Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind, and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day. Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work; For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul; And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work. Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence. Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen (Doctrine & Covenants, section 4)  

 Here are some other verses that speak to the need for what I am trying to do:

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.  Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. (Psalm 34:18

 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness; and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. (Psalm 69:20)

He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. (Psalm 147:3)

...by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. (Proverbs 15:13)

Ye have broken the hearts of your tender wives and lost the confidence of your children...many hearts died, pierced with deep wounds. (Jacob 2:35)

The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. (Proverbs 27:7)

These verses help give me purpose in my work.  I feel that I am being led to make a difference to people who really are feeling the dark side of life.  

Even after outlining the workshop, I continue to find new sources that help me understand this difficult process of healing from emotional wounds.  This week I have been reading "The Body Keeps Score" by Bessel Van der Kolk.  This is an amazing book that outlines what psychologists have learned about helping their clients to overcome the effects of trauma in their lives.  I love the stories that are told through compassion, and the practical tools that are making a difference in helping people move beyond the darkness that has kept them trapped, cut off from real loving relationships with others.  As I was nearing the end of this book, I started looking over my notes for the second part of the workshop, related to emotional development.  I started feeling that I needed to have more information about the role of the heart in our relationships and healing.  I really feel the heart has solutions that are beyond what the mind can offer. Since I feel strongly that my project does not originate with me, and is meant to bless others, I expect that my hunches and additional lines of inquiry really will continue to open new avenues.  I have a few book ordered that will teach me more about what the heart has to offer in the healing of trauma. I can't wait to get back to work this coming week!