Lucker Lecture presenter speaks on Leading in Hope

Redwood Falls, MN - Sr. Donna Markham, Dominican and clinical psychologist, challenged the audience of approximately 300 people at the Bishop Lucker Lecture held March 18 in Redwood Falls, to transform suffering and anger into compassion and hope. But more than just issuing a challenge, Sr. Donna offered "six insights," learned from those who have faced sufferings in their own lives, including the late Bishop Raymond A. Lucker who established the Lectures.

Insight #1: Keep vigil through the night times. The image of Jesus in Gethsemane was called upon as well as the experiences of being with a dying person, staying up with a sick child or struggling with emotional turmoil that makes sleep nearly impossible. Like Jesus, fidelity to prayer in these night-times of life is directed toward clarity of purpose and courage.

Insight #2: Suspend judgment and become conflict-partners. Brokenness and division are all around, the tragic result of some form of conflict. This is certainly true not only on the global level but in personal relationships, especially with conversations. Rather than allowing conflict to destroy relationships, dialogue can become a means to intensify the bonds of community.

Insight #3: Tell the truth in compassion. If judgment and the urge to harm or punish the other can be suspended, it becomes safe to tell the truth about self, experiences, hopes and beliefs. Until a person can trust some other human being with the shadows in the self, that person will never be spiritually healthy. There must be a commitment to study and prayer so that the church can become a witness to truthful conversation.

Insight #4: Commit to heal. Physical and emotional pain increase as rage and anger are left unattended. Violence escalates until it is stopped. There is a need to become agents of Jesus’ healing in all arenas of life.

Insight #5: Intensify community. All of these insights involve risk as symbolized by "courageously entering the fog." It would be far safer to ask someone else to do it or to not do it at all. The support of community is essential to weather the anxiety of these times.

Insight #6: Forgive. As long as past hurts fashion the responses to present realities, there will be no movement forward. Forgiveness stands in contradiction to a culture that seeks revenge and retaliation. Forgiveness is essential for those who ever wish to be healthy.

Sr. Donna issued a final challenge: "dare to be such agents of reconciliation and hope, using conflictual situations as opportunities to strengthen connections, build community, and establish alliances of respect and understanding in the midst of these extremely fragile times. It is, indeed, a challenge, but I believe we really have no other choice."