How do we respond to our own frustrations and incapacities?
“Burnout only really begins to heal when people learn how to grieve.”-Rachel Naomi Remen
Reflect on the ideas of Gustavo Gutierrez: In order to be a neighbor to the anawim (oppressed/marginalized) we cannot sacrifice our own selves and allow our good nature to be taken advantage of. If this happens then not only are we not helping the oppressed, we risk ourselves becoming the oppressed, feeling hopeless and powerless against social ills. In moving toward solidarity with those we serve, we must share the hope of the poor along with the struggles.
Once we realize that there is a divine power working through us for and on behalf of justice we can avoid the danger of thinking of ourselves as saviors. Instead we can begin to understand our role as co-creators and co-redeemers. There is a huge liberation in this knowledge; “we are not called to be workers, not master builders.” Never underestimate the power of knowing that we are never alone in our quest to bring about right order and right relationship; in this we find our hope.