LHCC as a Healing-Centered Community
LHCC as a Healing-Centered Community
The families of LHCC are strong, resilient, and creative people. They are also people who live with past hardships and current stresses. We believe that the God who calls us all together is a God of healing, wholeness, and freedom. We believe that people and communities are created with the capacity to heal from our wounds and emerge stronger from our times of trial.
This past weekend, I had the opportunity to participate in a training led by the Center for Trauma Resilient Communities. There, leaders of churches and organizations throughout western North Carolina learned concrete and practical ways to be communities where the healing and love of Jesus are made real through the actions we take together. Here are a few important points to guide our work together.
Brain/body/spirit connections: All these parts of us are one whole, and each part influences the health and function of the others. Our life experiences affect our brains, bodies, and spirits. These physical changes then influence the ways that our different parts work together. These changes can alter the ways we experience and respond to events and stressors.
The negative effects of Adverse Childhood Events (like experiencing abuse or witnessing violence) can last a lifetime and can affect physical health as well as mental health and financial security. An adult who grew up in an environment of fear and insecurity will react differently to current life stressors than someone whose background was stable.
We are designed for healing. Given safe conditions, our bodies and minds can emerge even more strong and resilient than before they were hurt. Neuroplasticity is the science word for the way our brains grow new pathways to respond to injuries or new demands.
When a child (or adult) is connected with loving and stable adults, that is a powerful force for healing. Simply experiencing consistent love and acceptance in a caring environment can improve mental health symptoms and increase coping skills. Kids who have 1-2 caring connections with non-parent adults do far better on a number of measures of wellness as adults.
At LHCC, we can employ practical tools to create a community that practices care and invites healing.
Stop. Breathe. Respond. When we face a frustration, conflict, or strong emotion, we may have the impulse to react immediately. Instead, we can stop to recognize the impulse, take a breath, calm our mind and body, then respond from that calmer place. That way our responses will be healthier for us and create a healthier community for everyone.
Community check-in. We start meetings with three simple questions: How do you feel? What is your goal? Who can help? When we examine what we’re bringing to a meeting or an encounter, we can participate in ways that honor each person present. When we ask for help, we realize that each person has good gifts to offer.
Our parents consistently ask for resources they can use to lead their families well. We will continue to teach resilience through words and actions so that everyone can benefit from what we are learning.
As a Christ-centered ministry, we believe that all healing ultimately comes from God. We are grateful that we can learn and practice ways to open ourselves and our community to the healing power of God.