|
|
|
Spirit and Story Archive
Welcome to Spirit and Story, where you can find the latest thoughts and
reflections by CLAL faculty and associates on the contours of our contemporary spiritual
journeys.
To access the CLAL Spirit and Story Archive, click here.
Katrina:
The Power of Storytelling in Renewal
By Irwin Kula
In late 2005, CLAL President Rabbi Irwin Kula went to
South Louisiana to help the Jewish communities devastated by Hurricane
Katrina begin to mend. Since then, he has appeared several times on WWL, the
leading talk radio station for New Orleans, to discuss how we can start to
heal after tragedy and find the strength to move on. Recently, a listener
contacted him to expound on the importance of storytelling in renewal and on
why it matters which stories we tell. Rabbi Kula’s response, which addresses
the power of narrative for both individuals and for the country, is provided
below.
Thank you for your kind words… I was actually just speaking from my heart. I
was using my own wisdom tradition’s understanding of creating hope and
meaning in the face of tragedy. Ultimately “survivors” need to frame a
narrative that invites people to go beyond feeling empathy for victims,
however much such empathy and compassion is legitimate, warranted, and
needed to address the immediate day-to-day needs.
Psychologically, this is important for two reasons. The first is to mitigate
compassion fatigue that sets in because a narrative that constantly
reiterates a victim/savior plot negates the real heroism and power that the
“victims” are demonstrating that are inspiring and critical to the very
renewal we all want. The second is that the victim/savior plot allows an
insidious unconscious fear of the helplessness and vulnerability that is a
repressed aspect of all of our lives to become a source of distancing for
the “saviors” who know unconsciously that they, too, are vulnerable.
People will distance themselves from those they perceive as victims, not out
of malice or callousness, but because they do not have the psychological
strength to cope with the feelings of vulnerability and fragility that
dealing with victims inevitably raises. Rather than face those feelings and
recognize that we are all both helpers and “helpees,” victims and saviors in
an interdependent dance, we disassociate from them and distance ourselves
from the painful situation.
The sooner we can tell a story that invites all Americans into an historic
opportunity one that invites us to address not only the needs of New
Orleanians, but the deeper needs and hopes that we have for a decent, just
and equitable society; one that invites us to participate not only in
disaster relief, but in the renewal of one city as an example of the renewal
that many of us know deep down is something needed in cities throughout
America the sooner we can galvanize commitment and energy. It simply is
recognizing one of the deepest spiritual truths that people intuitively know
tragedy has within it the seeds of profound opportunity and it is
unpacking, seizing and realizing that opportunity that defines what is best
about our humanness. This is a leadership task, and it is frighteningly
missing today.
To join the conversation at Spirit and Story Talk, click here.
To access the Spirit and Story Archive, click here.
To receive the Spirit and Story column by email on a regular basis, complete the box
below:
|