As our society has discovered more about mental health and trauma, we have learned how true peace can never be built on hidden pain. On this day of truth and reconciliation we, as Christians, are called to recognize that God desires for us to bring every dark truth into His healing light. In the ministry of reconciliation, we look at verses like, 2 Cor 5:18 (NLT) And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.
Loving those who are wounded is our call and some of the wounded among us are only 30 years removed from horrific childhood trauma. Love requires us to listen with humble hearts, recognizing that we cannot heal a past we refuse to honestly acknowledge. When we honour the truth of many wrongs, including those incurred at residential school, we allow the Holy Spirit to break generational patterns of silence, pain, and indifference.
As representatives of Christ, we choose to look back with honesty so we can walk forward in love and empathy towards those who still carry the pain. This is how we show the truth of God’s heart to those who haven’t known it yet. Ultimately, when we commit to truth and reconciliation, we reflect the heart of a God who restores broken relationships and makes all things new.