Hearing the Pain, Healing the Heart

I just recently returned from Vets Journey Home Houston and am once again deeply moved by the extreme sacrifice of putting one's life on the line 24/7 in a combat zone. We often don't think of the soldiers in terms of their hearts - we think of them as warriors in battle. And yet the heart must be huge to lay down one's life over and over again.

We have a term we playfully use to tease some of the vets, Macho Marshmallow. Beneath the warrior exterior there is a soft heart, often in great pain because of the damage incurred directly and indirectly.

I invite you to adopt a person in military service in your heart. If you have a name, that's great. If not, GI Joe or GI Jane will do. Say a prayer everyday for healing, courage, life for that person. You will make a great difference for all if you.

Please visit www.vetsjourneyhome.org, share the site with a vet, bring their hearts home!

Another great resource for veterans is ptsdspirituality.com

thanks for reading, thanks for caring
Patricia

The Veteran Returning to Civilian Life

A Community Education Event, Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at 7:00pm, St. John Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall (lower level) at 4850 S. Lake Drive, Cudahy. Presentation: "They're back, but it's not the same" is being sponsored by the Vets' Listening Group in Cudahy in collaboration with Stephens Ministry of St. John. The presenter will be Chaplain, Lt. Col. Carl H. Krueger, a recently retired chaplain of the Wisconsin Air National Guard. Whether a family member, friend, or work cohort is getting ready for active deployment or has returned from active duty, you will benefit from this insightful presentation about the transitions they are faced with as they return to the daily grind of civilian life. We have much to learn about supporting our returning veterans and understanding the spiritual, emotional, and psychological issues they face. All are welcome. Registration is not required, but is helpful. Call 414-481-0520 with questions.

Stories from the Vets

Calling all Vets Journey Home or Vets Listening Session participants! Please click on comments to post your story of your experience of with these programs.

The June issue of Sun Magazine contains an interview with Ed Tick (War and the Soul) that you may want to read http://www.thesunmagazine.org/issues/390

The Vets Journey Home weekend was a powerful success, with emotional healing for the participants and for the staff. Because of confidentiality we are unable to share stories, however I will invite the participants to share their stories here. Perhaps it will inspire you to attend a listening session!

The Vets Journey Home weekend will be offered at the Center for Creative Learning in August (20-24) in Milwaukee. The retreat is offered at no cost to the veterans. Meals are included. Veterans return home in the evenings. For more information, contact Patricia Clason 414-374-5433.

Welcome to the Vets Listening Sessions conversation

Vets Listening Sessions is a volunteer project of persons interested in providing for military veterans an opportunity to be heard about the experience of military service, the emotional pain of combat and war, as well as the challenges they face when returning home.

These volunteers include therapists, counselors, veterans, civilians, theologians, nurses, educators, and many other occupations and interests.

The purpose of this blog is to provide an opportunity for the "listeners" to discuss the process of providing listening sessions, their challenges in listening, resources for listeners and veterans and other information and insights.

We welcome your comments and questions.