Healing the Healer

There is something I have never considered before which is now being given a lot of attention in the media. It is the concept of compassion burn out. No one really seems to think about it, but it is possible to give enough to other people that you simply burn out and are unable to care at the level you want to for those around you. It's strange to think that in a society that is supposed to be very independent and self-centered, many of those under 25 are suffering from exactly this. We want to be able to do it all and care for everyone and are disappointed when we find that we can't.

The gospel from earlier this week was about the woman who was hemorrhaging. She came to the healer to be healed. For many of us, we think of ourselves as the healer. I know that I can be sucked into that at many points in my life. I am the compassionate one who gets called when someone needs a problem talked through with them, or just needs to cry. That is my role and I feel weak when I cannot fulfill it. When I come with the need to be healed, it's a very different experience for me. I don't really think that I like it.

To come with the need to be healed we leave ourselves completely open to those around us. We admit that we need help and find the strength to ask for it. It's a hard step to take. I hate being forced to ask for help, although I know I sometimes have to. In asking for help, we admit our weakness. We show that we cannot do it all by ourselves and that's not something we are always open to.

It's interesting to look at many of the healers in our society and notice that they have many of the unhealthy habits that should be healed. Many doctors and nurses smoke or drink excessively as do the clergy. Those who we come to for help can be reaching out for help as well, but we don't recognize it. We expect those in positions to heal be healed completely themselves before offering to help others. That's not the way life works though. There are always going to be dark and empty places in every one's hearts that crave attention and healing from someone else. Having the ability to offer healing does not mean that we never look for healing. It only means that we have something to offer.

Asking for healing is a humbling experience. It's difficult to come to a place where you can ask for that. It's hard because no one really wants to have to ask, we simply expect people to know. The reality is that they don't. Sometimes we have to sneak through the crowd to touch the hem of a cloak in order to get what we need. Sometimes we have to speak up for ourselves and say no to another commitment that is simply going to burn us out. Not all the time, but sometimes. Sometimes we need to be able to ask for healing.