This is national Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It's a time when we focus on those who are abused or abusive within relationships that are supposed to be the most loving. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
This is also an opportunity to help those who find themselves close to abusers or abuse victims. Reverend Wanda Cleckley, Spiritual Director of New Beginnings Ministry, has some advice for them. She is my guest on Say It By Heart the week of October 13th. Reverend Wanda suggests that if you know someone who is abused or abusive, stay informed and loving. She also says to create space for the victim or the abuser to share. If you remain available, when those involved in the abuse are ready, they are more likely to come to you for help. That's right, abusers need help, too.
This is the third show I've done where some form of abuse was discussed. It hasn't happened to me, but I think too many of us wait until a terrible thing creeps into our homes before we act. This may as well be in our homes. When people in our families, workplaces or communities are diminished by domestic violence it diminishes all of us. We need everyone who can put two sentences together to bring their A-game to the situations we face today. We're dealing with economic uncertainty and wars. Many communities are struggling to keep their streets safe, improve academic achievement and make affordable health care widely available. If there's violence at home, that's energy that can't be used to help tackle those issues that affect all of us.
A home should be a haven, not hell. It should be the place where we are shored up before heading out into the world for whatever purpose. Let's all commit ourselves to creating that energy in our homes, even if they are not hotbeds of domestic violence.
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