On Saturday, Washington National Cathedral hosted the UNITY Project at their Interfaith Picnic. What an honor it was to witness a project that I created on the grounds of a national treasure that promotes spiritual harmony.
National Cathedral's Vicar, the Reverend Dana Colley Corsello led an inter-faith blessing before the event for staff and volunteers. I wish I had recorded it or taken notes because it was a beautiful moment of reflection. Instead of quoting her, I'll share what I took away from the blessing: We need not look far to see the pain in the world, but we can transform pain into community and creation.
As I write this post, we reflect on the terrible pain of 9-11. We find millions of Americans suffering from the effects of major hurricanes. We find disasters and strife around the globe. At times, this human suffering can feel like it's too much to bear. But when we focus on transforming pain into something of beauty or impact, and use it to come together in ways that heal and bond, we create something that wasn't possible before.
Pain gives us a new perspective on the world. The mother creates an advocacy group to find a cure for her son's illness. The government creates a new policy to protect future generations from disaster. The songwriter creates a new expression of heartbreak that helps others through hard times. All of these are examples of people transforming unimaginable pain into creation and community.
I do not know of your pain, but I honor it. Whether your wounds are deep or on the surface, I invite you to consider what you might create from your suffering. Think about how you could transform your pain into something new that serves a greater community. When we work with our pain in this way, we can begin to release it, transforming our communities and ourselves.
On this anniversary of 9-11 and in the wake of natural and human-made disasters, I wish you comfort, community and creation.