Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Family as Safe Harbour

We all build internal sea walls to keep at bay the sadnesses of life and the often overwhelming forces within our minds. In whatever way we do this - through love, work, family, faith, friends, denial, alcohol, drugs or medication - we build these walls stone by stone, over a lifetime. One of the most difficult problems is to construct these barriers of such a height and strength that one has a true harbour, a sanctuary away from crippling turmoil and pain, but yet low enough and permeable enough, to let in fresh seawater that will fend off the inevitable inclination towards brackishness.
(p214-5. An Unquiet Mind, Kay Redfield Jamison.)

Sea walls, slowly constructed to guide and protect. The image is starting thought-streams, since I read An Unquiet Mind, this week. It's a memoir of having bipolar disorder (manic-depressive disorder) written by a professor of psychiatry. (worth reading, too).

Guiding and protecting structures are part of shaping a family or community. As parents we face the same tension, that Jamison describes internally.

Building walls that provide a 'safe harbour' for our children, without stagnation or suffocation.

I want the walls to be high, the protection absolute. I fight my anxiety to allow the sea to flow with some freedom through our family. But I need to bite back my fear, because this flow brings growth and developing independence. It's ironic that an experiential learner like me, struggles to see our children learn through grazed knees, bruised hearts and mistaken ideas. I forget the triumph of succeeding in a new endeavour - pure gold to developing souls.


linked to reflections on parenting at holy experience

holy experience

3 comments:

Dianna said...

I think it is one of the hardest things God has called us to do as parents, Kath...this allowing our children to learn from growing in their own life experiences.

And then I take it to the realm of Him parenting us...and how He allows us the freedom to grow from our own experiences. He gives us THE guide, His word, to show us the paths He desires we take because of the protection it provides for us. Yet we do stray from that path from time to time and even though He could stop us from making a mistake He stands back until we call to Him for help.

Thanks for sharing today.

Kath said...

I like where you took this Dianna. Thanks.
Kath

Lisa notes... said...

Some good insights here! I want to build that high sea wall too, around my whole family. It's hard letting the water flow in and around us, getting wet. Trusting the Lord to strengthen us to let Him strengthen our younger ones...