At 1.00 AM last Sunday morning, I was woken abruptly by our bedroom door flying open and our ten-year-old son, Yaakov, jumping on to the bed. Still half asleep, it took me a minute to figure out that the booms I was hearing outside were not part of my dream. Colin and I both checked … More Explosions in the Night
I believe that the world we’re living in is increasingly disconnected. More and more, we’re carrying out our lives in virtual spaces, interacting via screens. In our personal lives, we’re more likely than in previous generations to discard relationships when things go wrong rather than seek to fix them. This goes for friendships, romantic relationships, … More The Trauma Survival Guide Part 7: The Stories of Our Lives
People say that the anticipation of a stressful event is the hardest part of all. The calm before the storm, if you like. This is certainly one of the strangest experiences I have ever had. Last Tuesday and Wednesday, within the space of just a few hours, Israel assassinated two high profile terrorist leaders. Hezbollah … More Waiting
Did you know that babies start learning about sex from the very moment they’re born? Few people realize the power of tender, nurturing touch during infancy and early childhood. But the truth is that children learn their most foundational and enduring lessons about intimacy and relationships through how they are held and touched in the … More The Trauma Survival Guide Part 6: Protecting our Children from Sexual Trauma
“The roads to Zion mourn…” – Lamentations 1:4 7th October On the morning of 7th October, I was flying home to Israel with my family after a holiday in Cyprus. My mind was full of lists and plans for the coming days. We landed at Ben Gurion airport just before 7am, collected our luggage and … More Christian Support for Israel in the Wake of 7th October
Over the last 20 years, rapid advancements in digital technology have transformed the world we’re living in. One of these changes is the ease of access to pornography. Pornographic content is so prevalent that children are often exposed to explicit images and videos at a very young age. This episode of “The Trauma Survival Guide” … More The Trauma Survival Guide Part 5: Young People and Sexual Trauma
Have you ever stopped to think about how the families and social groups you belong to shape the way in which you express your emotions? Every group has its own unspoken rules about the sorts of feelings that are acceptable and the ways of expressing them that are seen to be normal. The problem with … More The Trauma Survival Guide Part 4: Do I Have the Right to Feel Traumatized?
When the night season descends upon our lives and we find ourselves surrounded by sorrow and trials, we would all like to imagine that our faith will hold us fast and that we will feel God’s presence more strongly than ever. But the reality is often more confusing than this. Traumatic experiences take us out … More The Trauma Survival Guide Part 3: Are the Father’s Arms Really Safe?
What’s the difference between trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder? Is it possible to go through traumatic events without them leading to PTSD? In this second video in my “Trauma Survival Guide,” I explore some of these questions, as well as how the definition and understanding of trauma has evolved over the years. I will put … More The Trauma Survival Guide Part 2: What is Trauma?
I’ve decided to venture out of my normal comfort zone (writing) to do a video series called “The Trauma Survival Guide.” After going through my own experiences with the Israel-Gaza war, as well as other stressful events that have happened over the last few years, I have realized that there are many tools that can … More The Trauma Survival Guide Part 1: Learning How to Thrash
Higher Than Me 