To Walk with Saints and Scholars

Second Sunday of Easter – 04/12/26

“Many Blues/Many Greens” Photo by LKV Walsh

Like most cultures I’ve encountered, the Irish have a saying that means, basically, “what’s up?” The Irish phrase, “Cad é an scéal?” literally translates to, “What’s the story?” And even better, when the Irish speak to each other in English, they often say just that. Upon seeing each other after a while or picking up the phone, the first question is, “What’s the story?” It feels to me like this is one more piece of evidence that Jesus could be Irish. His ministry was just that…no matter who he spoke to, no matter how they lived or how stigmatized their existence, Jesus asked not, “What is wrong with you?” Jesus asked, “What’s the story?” He asked women. He asked tax collectors. He asked religious authorities. He asked Grieving Thomas. “What’s the story?” Cad é an scéal?

In academic circles, we call this approach being trauma-informed. In order to be an ally, in order to be compassionate, we ask not, “what on earth is wrong with you?” but rather, “what has happened to you?” I was reminded of the importance of this stance in a first aid class this week. A class on first aid seems an unlikely venue for deep contemplation, but I spent an entire day writing curse words in my journal and working to make my face more poker-friendly as two trainers insulted, shamed and bullied the students in the class. The final straw came when one of the trainers said we shouldn’t be surprised if those we are helping sometimes reject the help or the calling of an ambulance. She turned to the side as if telling us a secret and said, “You never know what nut jobs you’ll meet.” I couldn’t help it. I had had enough. Rather loudly, I shot back, ” Or what trauma they may have encountered.”

NOT “What is wrong with you??” but rather, “What has happened to you?”

It can be hard to remember to make this the question…the approach…when we are tired, angry, hurting, and more. And it is still probably the only way to healing…for ourselves and for others. Our opportunities for using the approach are legion – from space shuttle launches to racial profiling and from nuclear war to Epstein files. As we encounter each other, and as we bump into each other’s seemingly difficult or illogical choices and behaviors, we can take a moment. Take a breath. Then, take a different approach. We can ask: What’s the story? What has happened here? And then, we can stand witness to that story, and we can walk each other home.