Resilience

"Resilience" in psychology is the positive capacity of people to cope with stress and adversity. This coping may result in the individual “bouncing back” to a previous state of normal functioning, or using the experience of exposure to adversity to produce a “steeling effect” and function better than expected.

For a very long time the quality of resilience has been one that has interested me. I could not believe some of the things people endure and stay well adjusted kind human beings. Where others who suffer little more than minor disappointments are selfish ruthless narcissists.

Irregardless of the life a person leads suffering does not discriminate. No one manages to escape the hardships life has to offer, and there are no get out of jail free passes. No matter how much you suffer or when it happens in your life there is no quota a person can fill and then be free of such burdens.

So for me resilience is of great fundamental importance.

I read a book once about stress relief. In the book it talked about dire circumstances and how people who survive this often can imagine themselves or day dream in such a creative and vivid way that they create a mental retreat or space for them to retreat within and escape their situation. The common term for this is escapism and its recommend that a person participate in such behaviors until they achieve some measure of agency to transcend or change their pilate.

In the film Precious the main character was born into dysfunction and through out the film when times would get hideously unbearable you would watch the main character stare into a photograph of her mother and then the image would come to life and say all the caring and nurturing things a mother should say.

It dawned on me during these escapism moments of the film that it takes a naturally creative person to create these imaginative moments that set the stage for resilience to occur. And despite the circumstances that surrounded the character Precious and whatever fate was to befall her or the people she was created to represent it was that strength and that resilience that inspired people to make a film that touched lives and exists to create a permanent legacy / tribute. To tell a story that has the potential to impact and influence for life times to come.

The Story of Creation:

Genesis 1:1
1 In the beginning, when God created the universe...

As Christians we strive to emulate the qualities and characteristics of not only Christ, but the entire Holy Trinity. The character Precious and the people who utilize escapism creating for themselves a mental sanctuary or holy refuge to self preserve are displaying and participating in God's character. And thus in the same way he transcends and is timeless they rise above and conquer and over come.

More and more Churches are excited to display creative works from their family of believers and have taken an active interest in the arts or arts ministries. I applaud this effort to reconnect what originated with God who created all things and provide more spaces for imagination and creativity.

It is only when we emulate the qualities of Christ and participate in His divine character that we achieve Christianity!