Spiritual Things Matter

Love is not blind…it sees more not less. But because it sees more it is willing to see less. ~Julian Weber Gordan

Most people know that the Toastmasters Clubs of America were established for the sole purpose of building leadership skills and strong communication skills in people. Recently, I joined a local chapter, because for years now, I have wanted to do some type of public speaking, but lacked the self-confidence to pursue that dream. After having written articles for my site for over two years, I have come to realize, that now more than ever before, the time has come to sharpen and strengthen my own abilities to communicate effectively, as well as build my personal confidence.

The clubs hold a contest about twice a year and last Thursday was one of those times. An e-mail had been sent out to inform the members that another Table Topic contestant was needed. After a bit of hesitation, I answered that call. Having already participated in the regular meetings for less than a month, I knew that a person would be chosen to answer a random question and given one to two minutes to provide an answer. In my first attempt, I got emotional and went under one minute which disqualified me. When I was called on for a second time, I did fine. The third time around, I froze and could not think of a single clear or coherent thing to say. When the invitation was offered for this contest, I jumped at the chance to face my own fears that had lingered so long in my mind and life. With a big smile, I proudly accepted the Second Place Trophy!

Our topic question for that day was: “If you could have any job in the world, what would it be and why? I was relieved when I heard this question because I did not even have to give it a second thought. “I would chose to be a healer, I answered. Not a healer of men’s bodies, but a healer of men’s hearts.”

I only had a few minutes to speak but after I came home, I wanted to expound on what I would have said if that would have been a full-fledged speech:

A Healer Of Hearts

If I were a healer of men’s hearts, I would pierce through the walls of the pain and mistrust that have been erected and would temporarily move them aside to reveal , that men can become their own healers. I would attempt to show them, with sheer tenderness, understanding, and love that which they never dreamed possible for their lives. They could then begin to discover a wealth of potential that lies within their own hearts. Then and only then will they come to realize that anger and blaming others for their perceived misfortunes, have only deepened their pain and hardened their own hearts. They would then begin to heal themselves.

If I was a healer of men’s hearts, I would bring clarity to their understanding. They would realize that those who have abused them and hurt them in any way, were in fact, bruised and hurt by someone else and their abusers were also in need of healing. Through this realization, they would be willing to forgive and release their resentments and bitterness which would bring about their own gift and ability to show mercy and love.

As a healer of men’s hearts, I would compassionately embrace those that felt cheated as a child. Those whose mother’s had not properly provided for them or perhaps even forsaken them. I would embrace those whose fathers were never there or perhaps had been too harsh in his disciplining methods. With great tenderness I would embrace all those who felt alone and never felt supported as a child, feeling that a hole has been left in their hearts which could never be filled. I would embrace them all, and I would embrace their parents, gently whispering into all their hearts, “Your parents did the only thing they knew to do. Forgive them and be healed!”

If I were a healer of men’s hearts, I would enter the prison walls and mental institutes and bring hope again to those that have been condemned by society. A hope that would bring freedom once again. Even within its closed walls, a heart that has been made whole and has been restored can find meaning and purpose in some way.

Perhaps each of us can be healers of men’s hearts. Through compassion and tenderness, through love and understanding, through humility and forgiveness, we can heal ourselves and touch the aching hearts of those around us.