Sense or Non-sense

We've surely heard and used these words before:

"You're too sensitive."

"You shouldn't feel that way."

"What's wrong with you?" (upon expression of a feeling).

But upon reflection, how did those words feel just now?

Painful? Abrupt? Like the closure of what could have been a conversation?

I'm watching leaves drift to the ground from trees embracing Autumn, the Fall.

How do trees feel, becoming bare-branched, naked and exposed?

How do squirrels feel, nests made obvious, unable to hide?

Sensitivity.

It's a trait that is special. It evokes caring and concern, perception and intuition.

A sensitive person is one who is deeply moved, and quickly so.

A sensitive person is a Feeler.

And sensitive beings (humans) know that not feeling = not living = no life.

The idea of being "too much" of a feeler equates to being "too much" of a human.

After all, humans feel...we are made to sense and feel emotions and feelings.

We are created as sensate beings,

constantly trying to "make sense" of the world around us,

always Feeling.

Unless...we aren't.

At first, not sensing (numbing) may seem desirable to avoid negative feelings.

But not sensing, not feeling, actually creates illness by trapping certain emotions.

The body knows and will suffer.

The Body (community) will suffer.

Generations will suffer.

For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed,

and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Luke 8:17

This non-sensing blocks us from emotions that are true to life: sorrows and joys, lows and highs.

Thich Nhat Hanh wisely describes these as knots. "When someone says something unkind to us, for example, if we do not understand why he said it and we become irritated, a knot will be tied in us. The lack of understanding is the basis for every internal knot. It is difficult for our mind to accept that it has negative feelings like anger, fear, and regret, so it finds ways to bury these in remote areas of our consciousness. We create elaborate defense mechanisms to deny their existence, but these problematic feelings are always trying to surface. If we practice mindfulness, we can learn the skill of recognizing a knot the moment it is tied in us, so that the work of untying them will be easy. Otherwise, they will grow tighter and stronger.

If we are feeling nothing, we feel no thing... no thing painful, no thing pleasant.

This not-feeling leads to suffering, disease and disorder.

Perhaps instead of not feeling, our goal is Knot-Feeling.

Knot-Feeling requires first awareness; then identification; then safe expression.

Knot-Feeling means holding these "knots" with care and compassion.

It means breathing deeply through feelings and allowing them to pass.

It means finding finding resources and methods to help gently and safely process these feelings.

Once such resource lives in the middle of the Bible: the book of Psalms.

Each Psalm is a human presentation of a variety of feelings.

Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea...

My heart is in anguish...

I cry out in distress... (Psalm 55)

And after the presentation, the proclamation of truth:

Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you...As for me, I trust in the Lord. (Psalm 55)

Both the Creator's Words and our Created bodies are made to help us.

All of our senses give us gifts to process our pain and to Heal.

All of our body parts give us ways to Thrive.

All our systems synergize to optimize oxygen entering into the body,

and to assist with stress chemistry leaving the body.

Oxygen is our healing nutrient:

deep-breathing, sitting and being;

sipping water (for an oxygen boost in the form of H2O);

speaking out feelings to self and caring others;

scribbling notes in journals or creating expressive art;

shedding tears; (recall, Jesus wept. John 11:35).

sweating through movement;

safe and secure touch, such as tight hugs for sensory input. (Touch increases the hemoglobin - the oxygen-carrier in blood- of both giver and receiver!) and

speaking and singing reminders of truth:

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Sensing IS sensible.

Allowing ourselves and others to Fully Feel is a prerequisite to Feeling Better.

As we embrace sensitivity not only as a gift of Being and Being Human,

but as a compass leading to exploration,

we can journey toward that which needs Healing within ourselves

and within our world.

Do you Feel it?