Trauma Dumping the Light and Momentary
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NIV): "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
Trauma Dumping is a common pop psychology term referring to sharing or oversharing about a deeply traumatic event. It’s a way to offload the burden of that event to another person. When people ask, "How have you been?" or "How are you doing?" these are often just niceties, not invitations for deep conversations. So, when asked, I have a decision to make: do I respond honestly, give a basic "fine," or the classier "living the dream," or do I fully unload my burden upon them,
Whenever I decide to go all in and share the truth, it is often quite a reaction, especially if it’s someone I haven’t spoken to recently. If it’s someone I haven't seen since 2020, I typically condense the list to key highlights:
We moved back to Florida.
I took a job as a Senior Pastor during the pandemic.
Our second son Knox was born.
11 days later, he was rushed to the hospital for his open-heart surgery.
We spent a month and a half in the hospital over Christmas and New Year's.
On Christmas Eve we received news that our son was diagnosed with William Syndrome.
After several follow-up procedures; he nearly died on the operating table.
Our dog of seven years got run over.
The next day, our son had a follow-up procedure and coded on the operating table.
He coded multiple times in the following days; put on life support.
We were told we were out of options; and transferred to Shands.
We spent 3 months in the hospital on life support.
Upon arriving back home our older son showed signs of autism spectrum disorder.
Three months later, Knox had his first seizure, causing his heart to stop.
We spent weeks monitoring his seizures.
Oldest son formally diagnosed with Level 3 Severe Autism.
Third son Ransom was born.
Knox's home health nurse was diagnosed with cancer at 23.
Paul lists his own traumas and suffering for the name of Christ in the very same book he calls them light. Here they are listed below:
Imprisonments
Countless beatings
Often near death
Five times received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews
Three times beaten with rods
Once pelted with stones
Three times shipwrecked
Spent a night and a day in the open sea
Constantly on the move
In danger from rivers
In danger from bandits
In danger from fellow Jews
In danger from Gentiles
In danger in the city
In danger in the country
In danger at sea
In danger from false believers
Labored and toiled
Often gone without sleep
Known hunger and thirst
Often gone without food
Been cold and naked
Faced daily the pressure of concern for all the churches
Yet when he examined them in the rearview mirror, he was able to say that all of his suffering was light and momentary compared to the weight ahead of him. This does not mean that they are not in and of themselves heavy. The beatings that are falling on him are but a soft breeze on his face compared to what is promised to him. When the reward is great, the suffering becomes manageable.
So, what is amazing is that the heavier life gets, the greater my heavenly reward seems. With each tip of the scale of affliction, the other side weighs down with a greater understanding of the glory waiting for us on the other side. I can rejoice in my suffering and boast in my pain. This doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt but rather puts the pain in perspective.
P.S. - The Lord has worked a multitude of miracles in Knox’s life and he is full of joy even in his unstable condition.
