“In order to build the movements capable of transforming our world, we have to do our best to live with one foot in the world we have not yet created. I believe unhealed trauma is the most dangerous force on earth. It’s the mechanism through which violence and cruelty and greed reproduce.”
This quote from Aurora Levins Morales, from her incredible collection of essays called, Medicine Stories (one of my favorite books), is one of my favorite quotes. It reminds me of the unpredictable, indiscriminate nature of trauma and the harm unhealed trauma creates. It also reminds me of resilience and hope.
From a Christian perspective, it reminds me that I must choose to have “one foot” planted in the new age that has broken into this old one by the arrival of Christ the King.
The old is passing away.
New creation has begun.
An alternative future of new possibilities await us.
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About Fred
Fred came to serve greater Williamsburg and WCC as lead pastor in October of 2010 and is grateful to be a part of the family. He is a husband, father, certified trauma professional, S.T.A.R. (strategies for trauma awareness & resilience) practitioner, community organizer, TEDx alum, founder of 3e Restoration, Inc. and co-owner of Philoxenia Culture LLC. He received his B.S. in Ministry/Bible at Amridge University and his Master’s of Religious Education in Missional Leadership from Rochester University. Currently he is a candidate for a Doctorate of Ministry in Contextual Theology in at Northern Seminary in Chicago. Fred has also served as an adjunct professor for Rochester University and Regent University where taught courses in philosophy, ethics, leadership, pastoral care, intro to Christianity, and ethnography. He has also served as a guest lecturer on the subjects of racialized cultural systems, poverty, and missiology at various universities, such as William & Mary and Oklahoma Christian University. Fred has authored on book (Racialized Cultural Systems, Social Displacement and Christian Hospitality) and several curriculum offerings, including The FloorPlan: Living Toward Restoration & Resilience.
Fred enjoys hanging out with his family anytime, anywhere. He is deeply grateful for how God graciously works through the Church in all her various forms, despite our brokenness. He is passionate about seeing the last, least, and lonely of every neighborhood, city and nation experience God’s in-breaking kingdom, and come to know Jesus as King. Oh, and his favorite season is Advent and Christmas.
Fred is a founding member of the board of directors for Virginia Racial Healing Institute, a member of the leadership team for Williamsburg's local chapter of Coming to the Table, and a member of Greater Williamsburg Trauma-Informed Community Network's Racial Trauma Committee and Training Committee.
Long Way Here 
Thank you, Fred, as always. This is so well said. As a psychologist (retired) I also believe that unhealed trauma is the most dangerous force on earth. And we seem to be creating more and more of it every day. As a person of faith (Quaker), I know we must be deeply grounded in the Divine and working in practical, every day ways, to make God’s love manifest among us. Wishing you a joyful Christmas, Thayer Cory
p.s. Perhaps you already know the wonderful Dave Berry quote that says, “Be joyful, though you have considered all the facts.”
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Hi! I’m so grateful you read and respond to these posts. I appreciate your reflections. I didn’t know you were a (retired) psychologist! I think you’d appreciate the book I cited. It’s rich.
I’m not familiar with the Berry quote but I appreciate the sentiment!
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