SUFFERING: A TEACHER TO ALL
Teach me your ways, O Lord.
As a school psychologist, I work with students from diverse backgrounds; specifically, I serve students who are involved with the foster care system and the juvenile justice system. Through counseling sessions, I have learned about all sorts of trauma, poor mental health, unjust systems, and just how much the human spirit can bear. Many of the stories I hear entail unimaginable trauma and suffering. When friends and family ask me how I handle the emotional weight of my job, I always point to God.
Because of my faith, I hold onto a “Christ consciousness” that allows me to see Jesus in each of my students, especially when I know they are suffering. Rather than being quick to fix, or even worse, quick to judge, I am reminded of how I can share God’s love while creating a safe and sacred space for my students. Whenever I hear about a traumatic past, or witness dysregulated behavior, I stand in awe of the burdens many of my students carry. Moreover, their suffering becomes a teacher to all. Today’s psalm reminds me that even in all my expertise and experience, I am constantly humbled because there are many times when I become a student of said suffering: a student of God.
During this Advent season, I acknowledge that the holidays are not easy for everyone, yet the coming of Jesus reminds us to wait patiently, love tirelessly, and to encounter each person with grace. My students challenge me to hold onto hope. They teach me the ways in which the human spirit remains resilient in the face of despair. They teach me patience, kindness, and compassion. They stir me to work for justice. O Lord, continue to teach me your ways.
May God bless all his children this Christmas, and may Jesus be born in each and every one of our hearts.
Christopher Tran