Fix Your Attention on the Nearest Wound

I only discovered this following quote last week. It was written by author and activist adrienne maree brown on October 2, 2017, the day after the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas where 60 people were killed and over 400 people were wounded by one man.

But it still resonates with me in these times of hurricanes and wars and more shootings and just plain ol’ rotten days that we all have.

“we must, each of us, fix our attention on the nearest wound, conjure within us the smallest parts of ourselves that are still whole, and be healers. heal with words and prayer and energy, heal with money, clean water, time and action.

there’s enough destruction. there’s enough nothingness swallowing the living world. don’t add to it. there’s enough.”

– adrienne maree brown

[Read adrienne maree brown’s entire blog post here.]

In the midst of bad things, hard things, even evil things, we each still have the ability to look at each other through the eyes of God. And offer compassion.

We can’t heal every wound. Maybe not even any wound.

But we can fix our attention on the “nearest wound” in our current circle of humans. And lend a hand up there.

And just for today, maybe that’s enough.

Fix your attention on the nearest wound


Share your thoughts in the comments.

16 thoughts on “Fix Your Attention on the Nearest Wound

  1. Martha J Orlando

    This echoes the idea that it’s so easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless in the face of so many troubles, but if we focus on what we can do at the moment, that is the way to help others with one small step at a time.
    Blessings, Lisa!

  2. Lynn D. Morrissey

    Don’t add to it. There’s enough, and I would add: MORE THAN ENOUGH…. TOO, TOO MUCH!

    I have been thinking about this a lot lately, and I want to add beauty (which is healing) and lyricism (beautiful words, which are also healing), and also truth, which, perhaps, is most healing of all. This is where I struggle.

    Yes, I do try to be truthful, but what do I say when those I love refuse to hear truth, or hear me at all if I contradict their version of it?! I have kept silent. But that ultimately, I’m thinking, is dishonest. Is that adding to the lies? Am I complicit in silence? If so, that is not beautiful.

    Much food for thought, but in the meantime, I don’t want to add to the ugliness, of which we certainly have more than enough!

    You never do, Lisa. Tx for all you share.
    xo
    lynn
    PS Hope I’m making sense.

    1. LisaNotes Post author

      I agree with you, Lynn: there is definitely too, too much destruction in the world. I love your intention to counteract it with adding beauty, lyricism, and truth. You are fulfilling that intention from all I read from you.

      And you are making sense. Yes, knowing when to speak the truth and when to stay silent is always a tricky thing for me, too. I don’t want to be obnoxious with my views, yet I also don’t want to be complicit with dishonesty. If you figure out the magic formula, please let me know. 🙂

  3. Kathleen Burkinshaw

    It truly eases my anxiety when I feel overwhelmed either with huge international issues/disasters or within my own home to remember that I can’t fix everything. There are forces out of my control. But I can help the nearest wounded, I can always pray for them, or pray for guidance in how to help someone near me(physically or emotionally) and it is sometimes my own heart that needs to be tended. I am enjoying your blog and visiting from the Lets Have Coffee Link up with Joanne Viola

  4. Katie Dale

    I love this thought, Lisa. Profound and full of possibility. If we are only able to do our best, that’s enough. Focusing on all the many broken parts of society may lead us to feel overwhelmed and helpless. Focusing on what I can change and what I let challenge me to rise to overcome is how you eat an elephant: one bite at a time. And when that elephant is shared? It’s eaten a lot faster. Thanks for the great thought.

  5. Paula Short

    you know I was just thinking about this, this week. About showing love and compassion to others who might have differing beliefs than us. This >”we each still have the ability to look at each other through the eyes of God. And offer compassion” captured me today. I want to be “Intentional ” in doing my best to do so.
    Thank you for sharing this blessed post with Sweet Tea & Friends this month.

  6. Deborah Rutherford

    Lisa, this is a beautiful quote and piece of love and compassion. I have been thinking about this too. How to have compassion and grace instead of anger and hurt. Which heals our hurt too. Then we can help those near to us who our wounded.

  7. Wemi Omotosho

    Powerful post. ” …there’s enough nothingness swallowing the living world. don’t add to it. there’s enough.” – this hit me. Sometimes it feels overwhelming and we feel powerless but I can “lend a hand” to someone with the nearest wound and that makes a difference to them. Thank you for sharing

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