It was November 1995. I was the Rector, pastor, of a predominantly Black Episcopal Church in Wilmington, DE and Interim Rector of a predominantly White Episcopal Church in the same town. I was leading the effort to merge these two churches and was hated by everyone or so it seemed. This was a toxic environment. My wife was seven months pregnant, it was the holidays, I was depressed and then my secretary, conspiring with individuals quietly planning my ouster, accused me of sexual harassment. To add insult to injury, this woman had to be one of the ugliest human beings I ever laid eyes on. Go figure. Me? Huh! In a private conversation with one of the church members I thought at the time was a friend, I got the following response for sharing my troubles:
“…That which don’t kill you will make you stronger…”
Unknown
I felt like No shit Sherlock; I perceive you are a prophet. What I didn’t get then but realize now is there are Enriching Conflicts in the life of authentic lived truth that show us who we are and what matters.
“…I learned from the experience of surviving the indignity of being molested I had it within me to begin again, to no longer live in shame and to never again allow anything to define me as less than the child of a loving God…”
Yalie
Fast forward to today. As the COVID-19 vaccine rolls out across the country, I shared in a recently published book that amid the crisis of the Covid-19 pandemic, I started a recovery cooperative with a message of hope. We provided service support at no for cost to Heroic Companies serving the Houston Community. What I did not disclose was this work came out of my decision to cut personal ties with a business associate that I was tired of doing business with. That day, I woke up with one nerve left and damn if that asshole didn’t get on it. I was done. Speaking of Enriching Conflicts, it helps when the upside of this conflict is one of the best corporate years we’ve ever had. Just saying.
I am a COVID-19 Survivor. No doctor or hospital help me get over COVID. I had the support of my loving life partner, my personal Dr. Mom. Thank you, Kathleen. Others may only see disease, destruction and death in COVID. But whatever brought COVID-19 my way, it taught me there are Enriching Conflicts that turn the darkness of our lives into light.
“…In spite of being sexually abused as child, I choose to use humor and laughter to change the world…”
Yalie
There is a line to a song I learned back in the day that says “…This joy I found. The world didn’t give it and the world can’t take it away…” Thank you but I’ll keep my Enriching Conflicts.
Read more about Yalie and these stories in ‘Tales from the Wreckage: The Beginning’ and tell your story. Listen to our Podcast. All on wreckedamerica.com. In Wrecked America, #EnrichingConflictsMatter
The Struggle Continues…
