An incarnate God as revealed in the muscle, bone, and sinew of Jesus convinces me that God cares deeply about the body. The body's ability to communicate through the nervous system and to heal itself from a scraped knee or a paper cut are miraculous.
The Greek word sōma refers to the wisdom our bodies hold. In Bessel van der Kolk’s book The Body Keeps the Score, Kolk says of trauma, "The issue is in the tissue.” What our brains cannot remember and our emotions do not process becomes stored in our bodies on a cellular level. Often our body has information and insight that is non-verbal.
People of color experience microaggressions in predominately white organizations and institutions and those of European descent experience secondary trauma engaging in anti-racist work. Both kinds of trauma take a toll on the body.
Today’s audio meditation is a gentle invitation to pay attention to what, how, and where you notice your good body speaking to you. Find a comfortable position, being mindful of what your body needs as you begin.
Journaling Prompts:
• What do you notice in your body?
• Where is your body holding stress, pain, restlessness, ache, etc.?
• How did your body feel after noticing and releasing?
