The Living Document 5
February 1, 2025
The Living Document Part 5
An authentic proclamation is a serious and formal announcement. It is a no-nonsense expression. My grandmother, who was born in 1892, used a colloquial expression of her day that I will never forget: It was, “Well, I declare.” She and others said this when they heard something surprising or unbelievable. When they said, “I declare,” it meant they declared what they heard as believable, valid or true.
I once worked in a hospital psychiatric unit as a group therapist, where many withdrawn patients never said a word. Though they came to the group meetings and listened to others, many of these dear souls resisted answering a direct question. Some did not feel entitled to speak. They may have been traumatized, belittled, or punished for saying how they feel. And some may be silent because no one ever took them seriously. Some of these dear souls may believe they will be shamed if they say what's on their hearts. Keeping things in is an unhealthy coping mechanism. All ego types can fall into this. If we do not allow our feelings, positive and negative, to flow through us, we can become emotionally blocked. This leads to depression, anxiety, and many other difficulties.
One day, after work on the psychiatric unit, I fashioned a scroll from a large piece of parchment-like paper. At the top, I penned the word "Proclamation" and left the rest of the paper blank. I rolled the large paper into a scroll and tied it with a ribbon. In group therapy, I explained that proclamations are essential and that we all have the right to proclaim our feelings. Holding up the scroll, I said. "Anyone with the scroll in their hand has the right to make a proclamation; I will say ‘hear ye, hear ye, hear ye,’ and then you open the scroll and speak from your heart."
On that very first day of using the scroll, most of these wonderful souls used it as a “prop” to speak. Some expressed anger, some cried, and some told how they felt about being away from home. Some began, hesitated, then passed the scroll onto someone else in the group. Some spoke about their lives and their illness. The scroll symbolized their right to speak. I was amazed and very pleased. The proclamation scroll stayed in the group therapy room and was used often.
We all have something to proclaim. Many of us would like to proclaim it from the rooftops! And many of us do. Many of us do not feel we have the right to speak, but whether we verbally proclaim or not, our living document constantly proclaims something, even if it doesn't utter a word.
Spiritual practice: Write a proclamation from your heart. Who needs to hear it? Why?
Self-inquiry: Is there something you need to proclaim but have not? What holds you back?
Dear God,
Help me to shout it from the rooftops! Amen
