Giving examples of what constitutes \u201ctoxic stress\u201d, Vollmer-Sandholm shared the findings of Dr Anda Fellitti regarding the lasting effects of Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) and how they can be \u201chealed\u201d by following the example of Jesus in addressing difficult themes without judgementalism by coming alongside the individuals. She spoke of the findings that the most important resilience factor to build is that of healthy relationships, making connections with people whom it is safe to talk to, whom you can open your heart to.<\/p>\n Closing with reference to Luke 4:17-21, Vollmer-Sandholm pointed out that Jesus came to meet us in our \u201ctoxic stress\u201d and bring relief and joy and make that joy complete.<\/p>\n Unexpected Grace: An Unwanted Journey of Significant Loss<\/strong><\/p>\n After sharing a favourite Bible reference found in Psalm 27:1, Andersson stated that between the two absolutes in life, birth and death, we will all experience a significant loss, that is something that cannot be retrieved. Those losses might be obvious or not so obvious, but each affects us and we all experience loss differently and react differently.<\/p>\n Sharing the details of the losses in her life, one of their family home by fire, and the second of her husband Lars as a result of a tragic accident, Andersson spoke of the challenge to address life based on her belief in a gracious God. Constantly the question \u201cWhy?\u201d surfaces because nothing prepares you for significant loss, whether it is expected or unexpected. In dealing with her own \u201cWhy?\u201d questions, she came to the place where \u201cWhy not?\u201d was probably the question to ask.<\/p>\n Andersson shared nine lessons she has learned as a result of her significant losses. Pointing out that while we are sinners living in a sin-broken world, the losses have nothing to do with God and our relationship with Him. While those losses leave scars, some of them very deep, significant loss is the beginning of a journey, a journey of continual discovery that God never fails, God\u2019s grace is sufficient to heal, His love continues on until we reach the land of \u201cno more death, dying, suffering and pain.\u201d<\/p>\n Lead(Serv)ing with a Limp<\/strong><\/p>\n Dyrud referred to that fact that we all have limps, though not all those limps are physical, some are spiritual, mental, or social. She also spoke of the fact that many people in the Bible also had limps. Concluding with a quote from Allender \u201cGod choses\u2026fools to live foolishly in order to reveal the economy of heaven, which reverses and inverts the wisdom of this world. He calls us to brokenness, not performance; to relationship, not commotion; to grace, not success.\u201d Marianne challenges us all to \u201cstart walking and serving in who you have been created to be\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n All the webinars from this week, and the previous series can be viewed on the TED website<\/a> or on the TED YouTube channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n * ‘End it Now’ is a joint initiative of the Children\u2019s Ministries, Women\u2019s Ministries, Family Ministries, Heath Ministries, Youth Ministries, Ministerial and Education departments of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. The goal of this initiative is to help lower the incidence of domestic abuse in our families and churches.<\/p>\n![\"Mary](\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/sitenews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/images_news-2021_Mary_Jo_Vollmer-Sandholm.jpg\")
<\/a>Mary Jo Vollmer-Sandholm, a Research Fellow, Lecturer and Specialist in Forensic Medicine and Prevention at Oslo University Hospital, Norway, started this month\u2019s webinar series by describing her observation from early years working in the USA where there were a disproportionate number of patients from a religious background presenting with abuse injury. Later on, after witnessing abuse in her local church and the response of local leadership, she joined with others to introduce the \u2018End it Now\u2019* programme.<\/p>\n<\/a>Audrey Andersson, TED Executive Secretary since 2015, took us on her personal journey through two significant losses and the way grace has helped teach her lessons for everyday living.<\/p>\n<\/a>Marianne Dyrud, a pastor who is currently serving as the Executive Secretary of the Norwegian Union, introduced the presentation by recounting her family link of people with a limp. Her grandfather, her father, and herself.<\/p>\n
Sharing some thoughts of Dan Allender, Teddy Roosevelt, J Robert Clinton, Barbara Brown Taylor, and Brene Brown, Dyrud built a picture of how God is able to use people to reveal Himself when they are willing to be \u201climpers\u201d. People like the Woman at the Well, Paul, Jacob, and others.<\/p>\n
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