Crafting and sharing stories about our lives is a fundamental aspect of the human condition. We share mundane stories about long lines at the grocery store, misplacing our keys, and getting caught in traffic. We also share stories about the most significant events in our lives, such as birth stories, coming-of-age stories, and love stories. 

But how do we story experiences that have wounded us, such as a devastating loss, an absent parent, a debilitating accident, an abusive partner, or a prejudiced teacher? Communicating about these experiences requires courage, because past experiences of harm often teach us to be cautious showing our wounds or to avoid being vulnerable. Yet crafting a story around these wounds and sharing the harm one has experienced can be an important step toward healing. 

While we believe it is important for people to share wound stories, we recognize that such stories are sometimes received poorly. Although crafting and sharing stories is fundamental to the human condition, listening and responding to stories is not our strong suit. We too often listen with our ego, projecting ourselves onto the storyteller or refusing to accept a story that does not fit with our conception of person, event, or institution. These responses can actually perpetuate harm, subjecting the storyteller to new pain. 

You do not need to attend or be a member of Hyde Park Community UMC to participate.

Workshop Aims

The goal of the workshop is to teach folks how to thoughtfully and compassionately respond when they cause, witness, or hear about harm that has occurred. The workshop will teach participants:

• How to support wounded people
• How to respond differently after you’ve done harm
• How to advocate for your own story and the kind of response/support that you need

The workshop aims to give people language and tools to be part of the healing process.