Soul Stroke
Can your soul have a stroke?
When the flow of “life blood” is interrupted, it prevents needed sustenance to our very well-being. If emotional numbness, moral weakness & confusion and lack of balance are any indication, I think our souls can have strokes. 
Living in a formerly repressive society, where anything could be twisted into offence against the ruling party, I surmise there had to be a lack of soul blood, a masking of oxygen, a clamping of vessels to the soul. It became a massive, irreversible stroke. It didn’t work the way they schemed. It smashed, repressed, stunted and killed. Seeming good intentions annihilated freedom, beauty and reason. That began 100 years ago. We live in the aftermath.
Yet…I detect similar leanings in my home country today!
In the repressive society, freedom of speech was a non-entity, let alone initiative and creativity of thought. Fear ruled. Anything deemed ill-spoken could have been judged against the accepted narrative with harsh consequences.
This is sounding way too familiar…
If caught up in faulty logic and subjective interpretations, a view (that doesn’t fit into a preferred narrative) is dismissed, this is a major loss. Where is the equal playing field? A gradual shift in belief, sloppy indifference to philosophical foundations, letting pleasure and comfort lull to sleep, moves the subtle shift to a massive rift.
“Freedom of speech [saying what I think might be wrong or might be needed] is the oxygen of liberty.”
“…where only the permitted narrative is tolerated then…you know what a diminished life this is going to cause.” Heather Higgins
America with its government from the people, responsible to the people, is founded and built upon hearing what the people think. That is what has continued to bring about change and progress; rather than imposing unreachable seemingly virtuous ideals that bring inevitable destructive results. (ex. Open border)
These pernicious ideas squelch some and megaphone others, rather than holding everyone to the same rules or the same treatment. Where is the reason and accountability when there can’t be robust debate, healthy disagreement and respectful dialogue?
Let’s beware of our souls succumbing to the unhealthy habits of communication that lead to soul strokes!
How can our communication enhance dialogue even when there is disagreement?
Listen to Peter’s words to people living under the repression of the Romans and the persecution of the Jewish leaders of their day.
“…even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” 1 Peter 3:14-16
We need Him for this!
A great book to help in navigating difficult conversations with truth and love:
I Beg to Differ by Tim Muehlhoff
