Weeping and Rejoicing: Remembering Victims and Honoring Survivors
As a minister, one scripture passage that guides my work is from Romans 12:15: “Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.” Each October, that phrase takes on a particular meaning as we gather for the annual candlelight vigil for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Awareness.
Organizers, activists, survivors, and friends gather for a time of reflection and recollection, solidarity and storytelling. We weep with those who weep, recalling the statistics as well as the very real people behind the numbers.
According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) “On average, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States, based on a survey conducted in 2010….Those numbers only tell part of the story—more than 1 million women are raped in a year and over 6 million women and men are victims of stalking in a year. These findings emphasize that sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence are important and widespread public health problems in the United States. “
College campuses such as our own are not immune to the realities of such violence. The brutal murder of University of Virginia senior Courtney Love by her ex-boyfriend George Huguely in 2010 continues to make headlines as Huguely was recently sentenced to 23 years in prison. Most of us know at least one person or family that has been forever changed by sexual assault and/or domestic violence.
We grieve the loss of those who have died as the result of such violence and we weep with those who continue to suffer, either as victims themselves or as loved ones whose hearts are also broken and whose lives are affected forever.
Beyond the weeping, however, we also rejoice as we celebrate the courage, strength, and resiliency of survivors, some who choose to share their personal stories at the vigil. We rejoice too as we witness the compassion and care of those who speak out against the atrocities, who advocate for changes in attitudes and public policy, and who personally accompany others on the journey of healing and recovery.
If you are a survivor of domestic violence or sexual assault, know that you will find a sacred space of welcome and a spirit of healing at the candlelight vigil.
If you have experienced the loss of a loved one due to domestic violence or have a family member or friend that has been traumatized by sexual assault, know that you too will find a space of welcome and a spirit of healing at the candlelight vigil.
If you are looking for ways to transform a culture of violence into a culture of caring, healing, and wholeness, please join us on Thursday evening, October 18th, at 7 p.m. in Snidow Chapel. We will weep with you if you need to weep, and we will rejoice with you if you are ready to rejoice. The stories you hear will move you, the people you meet will inspire you, and the candles you light will bring you hope.
Peace, Anne