Part 2, When a Movie (& People!) Heal

8/5/23

HI Mortal & Imperfect Angel –

What’s new for you?

What happened the last time you unintentionally did something that you could laugh at yourself about? Care to share in the comment section so the rest of us can laugh at (er – sorry) WITH you? 😉

It’s funny (well, to me, anyway), had recently congratulated myself for not locking the keys in my car for several months and decided this meant I was better at living in the present moment. Then just a couple of days later, did it again, dang-nab-it! And not only the keys, but everything else, too, so I had no phone to call for road service and no info (insurance policy number, etc.) to give even if I did have a phone. This happened at a smaller park and there were no other vehicles around. Thank God there were a couple of guys mowing the lawn on the other side of a pond; was able to get to them before they left in order to guilt one into letting me borrow his phone. 

Have you ever had to do THAT – accost a stranger in order to borrow their phone? (Not to brag (ahem) but that wan’t my first {nor fifth} time.

After making the call and while walking away the guy made a comment about hoping the day gets better.  I laughed a little and replied: “Eh, I’m getting it (the crud) out of the way now so the rest of the day is going to be good”.

And you know what? It was!

Afterwards it occurred to me; there may have had quite the streak of not locking keys in the car, but if we talked about locking oneself out of their own house, well, let’s just say I haven’t fared quite so well in that department lately! But really, I’ve done these things so often it no longer upsets me (much). It’s just one more reason to laugh at myself, and a valid reason to be late to wherever I’m going. So you see? It could be considered a win/win situation! 

Ok, now back to the regularly scheduled post . . . 

Last week I wrote about seeing the movie “Sound Of Freedom” a couple of times and how it (and the people I went with) were healing experiences.

That healing was taken deeper when Rebecca McDonald, a good woman and the founder of Women At Risk International (WAR), talked about the movie on WAR’s monthly “Light Up Your Life” July Zoom meeting (that anyone can attend). (There’s a link to watch it on their website.) 

After watching her presentation, for whatever reason, there was an inclination to send WAR a couple of my own observations about “Sound Of Freedom”.  (Now I now it was a ‘God nudge’.)

Was kinda trepidatious about doing that; I was concerned they’d think I was being a bit presumptuous to assume they’d care and have the time before having the gumption to tap it.

I should’ve known better; of COURSE they didn’t judge me.  Here’s what transpired . . . 

The email I sent (in parts and edited for clarity a bit): 

“. . . I’ve seen the movie twice and knew it was stirring up the memories/emotions but haven’t been able to deal with most of them. It’s kinda funny ‘cuz seeing Rebecca [on the Zoom, giving her presentation], that little child in me started weeping and just wanted to reach out to her, & really, any of you at WAR. Ya’ll seem to truly ‘get it’. Have never had that ‘vibe’ from anyone else, so thank you . . .  

“As a survivor, I just feel a need to express a couple of things [about the movie]; figured this would be safe place to do that.

“Coming from an era when NO one cared (in my world, anyway) about child trafficking, it really (finally) is sinking in that some men CAN care & are doing something to help children and not just to sadistically use them for their own personal perversion.  What a revelation! (Hadn’t realized I so strongly about that) . . . On the negative side, I know I’m hypersensitive about this but it upsets me when it appears as if media (or others) imply that once children come out of sex trafficking they are immediately healed and become children without trauma and baggage. It feeds the lie that so many want to believe that we SHOULD just be able to let it all go . . . the CPTSD, trauma brain and reactions, relationship issues, dissociative identity disorders, etc., are all merely weaknesses we SHOULD be able to control & it’s our fault we don’t. 

{You know what? We really don’t need that guilt and shame added to the massive loads we already carry.}

“I’m not trying to imply healing isn’t possible, I KNOW it is – my life is in a better place than I could ever realistically imagine and it’s just getting started; I’m so excited to see where it’s going! But it takes more time and work than most people realize and don’t care to know. 

(But thinking about it, now-a-days, with places like WAR and good therapists and therapies, it probably can happen easier and quicker, but it’s still an arduous process.)”

The email ended with: “Have no doubt there’ll be some regret once I hit the ‘send’ button.” {Due to fear of being shamed or denied in someway by the people I took the vulnerable chance of trusting.}

Amy from WAR replied (in part):  “I feel so honored you trusted me with your thoughts on the film. Please know I read them twice, because what you have to say is that important . . .”

Wow. Thank you, Amy. 

Rebecca McDonald responded with telling me she wished she could hug me, that I am strong and courageous (!) and my voice is important. She even edited my initial note and created a post for WAR’s website from it.

Thank you, Becky. Your response is a verbal comforting hug. 

Shedding just a couple of tears in this moment, and smiling. It’s amazing how much healing can be facilitated with a sincere, caring and empathetic response.

It still amazes me when people show respect for my thoughts and feelings. Can only pray I’m learning from these good people so I can do better for others. 

This also took deeper the whole concept of acting in faith, whether for others or ourselves. Sometimes there is a subtle nudge inside our heart or spirit to do something positive that pushes us out of our comfort zone. If we follow it, even when we don’t know why or what the outcome will be, the effects could be so healing for someone (even if we never know how), and always to some degree, for ourselves. 

Thank You, God!

Would you, mortal and imperfect angel, care to share a time when you pushed yourself out of your usual routine without understanding ‘why’ and how it effected you, and perhaps others? You can use the comment section at the bottom of this page. Your email will never be made public, and what you post will be made visible once it’s been read. (Unless you ask us to do otherwise; that will always be respected, too.)

Still love REO Speedwagon’s “Keep Pushin’ “. “Well, it’s comin’ together I finally feel like a man, oh yes I do / I never thought that’ I’d be where I am / everyday I wake a little bit higher / oh I keep pushin’ on, oh yeah.” Thank you for posting this video, squintyt4e !