The fairytale of the Jeweller and his Pearl

The fairytale of the Jeweller and his Pearl, Raechel Joyce

A local Adelaide author, Raechel Joyce, reached out to share her new self-published book with me. I’m glad she did. 

There is a significant personal story behind it and there are numerous levels of meaning woven throughout. Written in the style of a fairytale and illustrated like a picture book by Jessica Scholich, it’s relevant for older children through to adults.

A friendly and knowledgeable jeweller lives with his family in a small village. One day a stranger gifts him a special and precious pearl. Word of it spreads and many flock to see it, including a deceptive and nasty jewel thief. The pearl is deeply damaged by the thief, and the Jeweller is heartbroken that he could not protect her. A gemstone fixer works to repair the pearl over much time, and a lovely guard-dog is dispatched to protect her. The scars of the pearl’s damage remain, but they somehow become beautiful and change her to be even more valuable and precious.

At one level it’s a modern fairytale about our value despite what happens to us. As such, younger readers will be able to appreciate it. For people who have been significantly harmed by violence or trauma, they will hopefully see the message that they are loved and precious, and that they can grow and strengthen despite the pain experienced. I could imagine counsellors using it with (especially female) clients who have experienced violence.

For Christian readers, there is subtle extra meaning, with the kind stranger being King Yeshua and echoes of the kingdom of heaven being like pearl of great value (Matthew 13:45). The author has clearly tried to make it accessible to anyone, whatever their world view. I found the story stayed with me for some time.

Raechel says that “this book is the outworking of Genesis 20:50-51 in my life: what the enemy intends for evil God can use for our good, and His glory.” If you are interested in knowing more or getting a copy, you can email Raechel at publishingpearls@gmail.com or see the Facebook page (under the book's title).

 (I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)

Something Scary Happened

Something Scary Happened: Comfort for Children in Hard Times, Darby A. Strickland (New Growth Press, 2023) 

This picture is for a specific situation - when something scary has happened to a young child and you want to help them process it and understand that God and his good shepherd Jesus are with them in their pain. 

Miles the lamb has lots of fun in the meadow with his other lamb friends: they play soccer, they eat, and they all sleep in a pile together. But one day something scary happens, and Miles is so scared that he doesn’t know what to do, and pretends it didn’t happen. 

But he can’t really forget, and he gets mad at his friends, and then he cries, and he can’t sleep - he feels all alone. But then the good Shepherd comes and promises Miles that he is with him - when he is scared, when he is mad, when he can’t sleep. 

All of this in anchored around Psalm 23, and beautifully illustrated by Carlotta Notaro. It’s a gentle book, introducing helpful concepts for little ones (2-5s) about how our bodies, emotions, and relationships can all be affected when something scary happens. Because the “scary thing” is not specified - it could be used for numerous scary circumstances or traumas, e.g., a car accident, cases of abuse, seeing a confronting thing, or challenging events in a family. There are also helpful guidelines for carers in the back of the book.

One of those books that you hope you don’t need, but will be helpful if you do.

I have PTSD

I have PTSD: Reorienting after trauma, Curtis Solomon (New Growth Press, 2023)

This is yet another very helpful release in the expanding Ask the Christian Counselor series by New Growth Press. While it is a short book, Solomon sensitively and carefully unpacks the core issues well, explaining trauma and it’s impact, and then guides the trauma sufferer through a process of reorientation in God’s love and care keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.

He is clear from the beginning - God knows about trauma: 

“If you open the Bible to its first book, Genesis, you will read story after story of trauma inflicted and endured. Trauma did not take a break or disappear; it has been with us ever since. In each generation, people from every tribe and nation have experienced and inflicted trauma.”

Throughout, he uses three ongoing examples of people who have experienced trauma:

• Vanessa - who watched her brother die from a football injury 
• Javier, an army ranger - who experienced traumatic events in war, including the explosion of an IED which took a friend’s life. 
• Carl - who was in a car accident where a child died. 

Therefore, the focus is on trauma that is connected to a specific event, not long-term childhood abuse or neglect. For those who are aware of diagnostic labels - this means it’s more for people experiencing post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), not complex PTSD (C-PTSD). In fact, Solomon is clear that he is not addressing abuse (particularly long-term).

He is clear that this is not a battle for one to fight on their own. You need a team around you - he has specific ideas who that should be, including a biblical counsellor, a counselling ally (someone who does counselling with you) and trusted supporters who you can call when things get tough. It’s a specifically structured approach, but one that could have value.

Early on he explains trauma and post-traumatic stress, and how the body responds to it, noting:

“Your response to trauma is unique because you are a unique person with a unique blend of genetics, relationships, history, thoughts, feelings, and desires. Nevertheless, while the difficult things are unique, they are not uncommon. So when you face them, remember you are not having an abnormal response to normal life; rather, you are living a common response to extreme suffering.”

Because of this, Solomon (like many others) takes issue with the term ‘disorder’. As such he refers to PTS throughout (rather than PTSD). 

He helps the reader to develop a “peace plan” when triggered - which includes praying, sitting down (for safety), breathing (with instructions), thinking truths about God, and considering who to call. He further explores triggers and how to manage them, including how to face them wisely and in small doses. Next, there is encouragement to grieve your losses, and take responsibility for what you can, noting that while some things may bring shame, they do not necessarily stem from actual guilt.

In reminding of how Jesus restored - he notes that Jesus suffered as well, and that he is our saviour. We need to remember that:

• The world has been disoriented since sin entered the world 
• God came to rescue the world and put things right 
• Jesus understands your suffering because he has suffered 
• God does bring transformation out of trauma 

It’s this idea of transformation that structures the final part of the book - how to reorient your past, present and future. There are concepts of CBT in here, as well as general trauma—informed therapy - there are trigger logs and charts to help you process. But all also focus on God, who he is, how he loves us, and how he brings transformation even through awful suffering.

“One hope that God offers trauma sufferers through the Bible is the happy news that a person’s PTS can be reframed to become Post-Traumatic Sanctification.”

I was given an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Tackling Trauma

Tackling Trauma: Global, Biblical, and Pastoral Perspectives, Paul Barker (Ed). (Langham Partnership, 2019)

My recent review on The Body Keeps the Score noted that while it was an excellent work, as Christians there are other perspectives to consider that overlay secular thought. These include our view of God in the midst of suffering and pain, what forgiveness could look like, how our redemption in Christ changes us, and how ongoing sanctification could impact the person with trauma. To consider what it means to be a child of God and to trust in him as the God of comfort who truly loves and cares for us, even in our brokenness.

So I was thankful to be given this book which considers trauma from a biblical, theological and pastoral perspective. Paul Barker has edited this volume of 20 diverse essays from various scholars, pastors and trauma professionals. It has been compiled with the goal to "help, equip, and encourage pastors who are preaching, teaching and exercising care for people who face potential trauma or indeed have experienced trauma" (p.ix). However, its real distinction is its global perspective. So many resources concentrate on the developed and first world, with a focus on individual and personal traumas. Those are certainly real, significant, and require sensitive pastoral care. However, this book addresses larger scale traumas that communities face of civil war, conflict and natural disaster. These range from the war in Ukraine, civil war in the DRC, and the impact of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, to Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines and extreme poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. As such, it encompasses a broader view of the impact on communities, not just individual people.

“in non-Western societies, where survivors usually experience suffering in spiritual, religious, family or community terms, there is a need for interventions that facilitate conditions for appropriate communal, cultural, spiritual, and religious healing practices" (Ch 12, p.192)

While every chapter was valuable and had helpful perspectives, there were some that stood out:

Chapter 2 - Praying the Psalms - using the Psalms devotionally to promote post-trauma resilience, for the Psalms are "God’s poetic gift to us that has a powerful therapeutic dimension when prayed in light of the Christian faith.” (p. 17). Indeed, post-traumatic growth and resilience include:

“the ability to find meaning in adversity, gratitude, the ability to forgive, a willingness to seek special support and a capacity to follow one’s own inner moral compass. These resilience factors, in particular, would seem to be things that are part of a faithful Christian life.” (pp.13-14).

Chapter 7 on forgiveness succinctly explores what it might look light in our fallen and not yet redeemed world. 

"The overall scheme and structure of the biblical story suggest that in order for humans to live in consonance with reality, and in order for human actions to respond appropriately to broken reality, they must be forgiving. Thus forgiveness is the most appropriate existential posture, mind-set and roadmap for negotiating through life in this world." (pp.121-122)

Numerous chapters further consider forgiveness, reconciliation, and healing:

"A Christian theological rhetoric of forgiveness ... is one that challenges and encourages people to be disposed to forgive without requiring prior repentance, because God in Christ forgave without requiring prior repentance” (Chapter 5, p.100)

“One of the techniques for processing traumatic memories is to repeatedly return to an envisaged place of safety. The idea of God as The Place in which the world dwells, and therefore as the dwelling place of God’s people and the the individual, offers a truly safe place.” (Chapter 4, p.61)

"Forgiveness is closely related to the themes of sin, repentance and new life and is perhaps the most essential task of Christian living. Nevertheless, forgiving and being forgiven are not simple but rather extremely complex practices...Christian forgiveness is “love practised almost those who love poorly”, which should be distinguished from pardoning, condoning or forgetting." (Chapter 9, p.141)

“God is interested in wholeness and wellness, He designed the human being in a marvelous way, interlinking the spirit, mind and body to work together perfectly. Such a worldview is more holistic and relational, interrelational and positive in nature” (Chapter 17, p.274)

There are also chapters that explore how churches and mental health workers can play a role in traumatised societies, with both practical and pastoral suggestions.

While I read this book cover to cover for the purposes of this review, I see its real value as a resource to dip in and out of. It will have particular application for those ministering to communities of trauma. Yet it has is relevance for all Christians, and especially those who preach and care pastorally. A broader understanding of trauma and a theological understanding of the issues surrounding it and its and implications, will only improve our care for those living with it. This wouldn't be the first book to read on trauma (The Body Keeps the Score would be good for that), but if you want to extend your Christian thinking and consider theological and pastoral responses to it, this is an excellent option.

The Body Keeps the Score

The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel van der Kolk (Penguin, 2014) 

I have been slowly working my way through this seminal work on trauma over the semester. After it sat on my shelf unread for years, taking a trauma-informed therapy course at uni suggested it was now time to read it. 

It’s excellent and I can see why it’s so well regarded by other trauma experts, as well as by numerous health professionals, and the general public. van der Kolk presents the details of trauma, how it impacts the brain and body, and numerous treatment paths in a very digestible, easy to read format. This is impressive, for the book is over 400 pages, and requires reasonable concentration and attention. His storytelling skills are evident as he weaves stories, case studies and examples throughout while also explaining research, outcomes, programmes, and the impacts of public policy. 

Broken into five sections, he begins with the rediscovery of trauma, described through his work with Vietnam veterans. 

“Trauma results in a fundamental reorganisation of the way mind and brain manage perceptions. It changes not only how we think and what we think about, but also our very capacity to think…For real change to take place, the body needs to learn that the danger has passed and to live in the reality of the present.” (p.24) 

He explores the brain and how it is impacted by trauma, and then gives detailed attention to the developmental impact of trauma in children. He supports the view that child abuse is the gravest and most costly public health issue in the US. It’s a sobering observation that, 

“In today’s world your ZIP code [post code], even more than your genetic code, determines whether you will lead a safe and healthy life. People’s income, family structure, housing, employment, and educational opportunities affect not only their risk of developing traumatic stress but also their access to effective help to address it. Poverty, unemployment, inferior schools, social isolation, widespread availability of guns, and substandard housing all are breeding grounds for trauma. Trauma breeds other trauma; hurt people hurt other people,” (p. 418-9) 

If you are around my age (or older), you likely are aware of the prevalent view (of the 80s/90s) that people needed to relive or talk through trauma in all its details to process it. Reading this book (and my study) has clarified that talking therapies alone can be traumatic and triggering, and an integrated phased somatic trauma approach can be much more beneficial. An understanding of what your body & brain is doing, how it responds, and various treatment approaches are all important. It is these pathways to recovery that make up the final section (and almost half the book). He explores reestablishing ownership of your body and mind by finding ways to be present and calm, integrating traumatic memories, EDMR, body awareness through yoga, a parts awareness of our inner selves, psychomotor therapy, neurofeedback and community theatre. Some of these more technical terms may be familiar to those already in the field, but all are well explained and therefore understandable for any reader. 

One could read this book overwhelmed by the challenges that trauma presents to both individuals and our society at large. Yet, there is hope scattered throughout as well. It’s an area with growing understanding and increasingly research proven methods of treatment. People can process and integrate their trauma in ways that enable them to go on to live stable, safe and meaningful lives. 

“Trauma consistently confronts us with our fragility and with man’s inhumanity to man but also with our extraordinary resilience.” (p.427) 

For the Christian there are other areas worth exploring that overlay the current secular thinking. These include our view of God in the midst of suffering and pain, what forgiveness could look like, how our redemption in Christ changes us, and how ongoing sanctification could impact the person with trauma. To consider what it means to be a child of God, trust in him as the God of comfort who truly loves and cares for us, even in our brokenness. All areas still to explore. 

This book is an excellent introduction to the current thinking and research on trauma. It is highly recommended for health professionals who want to understand this field better. I would say it also has great benefit for those with trauma, although caution is needed as it is likely to contain triggers, and does require a fair amount of concentration to read.