Healing Through Christ
By Anna Jackson | Work Trip Coordinator, Project Mexico
St. Seraphim of Viritsa's poem, "This Was From Me," was written to a spiritual child of his who was suffering in the soviet prisons. I was first introduced to this poem at the beginning of the Summer of 2025 by my Spiritual Father, and I thought it was beautiful. I had no idea how much it would reflect on the months that followed.
...it is a special joy for Me to train you. When temptations and the opponent [the Evil One] come upon you like a river, I want you to know that This was from Me.
A Fracture at the Worst Possible Time
This past Summer, I broke my arm between Week 4 and Week 5 of our Homebuilding Season. I say I broke my arm. I actually fractured my left pinky finger. The damage was done to a single tiny bone in the smallest finger of my non-dominant hand, but because of the location of the fracture, my entire left hand was immobilized from elbow to finger tip. I knew as soon as it snapped that my finger had broken. In that moment, I also knew that my ability to build for the rest of the season was essentially gone. The X-ray tech laughed at me when he asked what my job was, "Construction Ministry? Welp, you won't be going to work any time soon".
Weren't you asking Me to teach you humility? ...This was from Me.
Building With One Hand
I do not recommend trying to build a house with one arm in a cast; it is not particularly pleasant, but it can be done. You can do your best to be helpful, carrying one bucket at a time or relegating yourself to explaining how to do things rather than doing them yourself. The cast will get dusty and itchy from the dirt and sweat; you will feel useless and embarrassed at how little you can manage singlehandedly. You will watch the houses be built, under your direction, yes, but without the ability to physically pour yourself into the work you take pride in.
I will make your righteousness shine like light and your life like midday noon... This was from Me.
A Soul in a Similar Position
There had been warning signs before the impending fracture. My soul was in a similar position to my body. I was juggling too much, insisting I could do it all. It is so hard to ask for help. Mentally and emotionally, I was also carrying more than I could do alone. I was in pain and angry at the sudden helplessness I felt in the face of so much responsibility, but even then, I refused to give up control. I wanted to prove myself. Then my finger broke.
You made plans and have your own goals; you brought them to Me to bless them...Unexpected failures found you and despair overcame your heart, but know that this was from Me.
The Humiliation of Helplessness
This was not my first time in a cast, but it was the worst. Before, I had always at least been able to use my fingers; in this case, I could not grip anything in my left hand at all. I could not brush my own hair for over a month, much less dig, stucco, or use a power drill. It was humiliating. I was supposed to be taking over the Homebuilding Program, but I was unable to build. I took so much pride in my ability to work hard and to do it well, but all of a sudden, I could do nothing but watch the work of others. I was forced to ask for help with even the simplest tasks.
...Because I want you to know Me more deeply, through physical ailment, do not murmur against this trial I have sent you... This was from Me.
Christ in the Hands of Others
When I refused to give my work, anxieties, and responsibilities into his care, He allowed me to experience the pain and then the joy of doing so by necessity. The Church is the Body of Christ, and when I lost the use of my own, He gave me His own hands. The hands of every person who came to the Ranch to help the poor and needy became my own because they are His. Christ appeared in front of me. He brushed my hair; He carried my bags; He gave me His chair; He did my work when I could not. All I had to do was let go of it myself.
...Remember always that every difficulty you come across... This is from Me.
Healing Through the Body of Christ
Healing through Christ is to heal through the Church. We are one communion, a community of the faithful. In the slow repair of my physical hand, there was also the slow repair of the soul. In my weakness, I learned to lean on others. In doing so, I finally understood why Christ shared the burden of the cross with Simon. The Church, the Body of Christ — every single member — willingly bears the burdens of everyone. The Image of Christ appears, carrying every cross in that bearing. I must give up my pride to see Christ beside me, and, to be like Him, I must invite an image of Simon to walk beside me as well. In the moment that a burden is shared, Christ's Likeness appears.
Know and remember always, no matter where you are, That whatsoever hurts will be dulled as soon as you learn In all things, to look at Me. Everything has been sent to you by Me, for the perfection of your soul.
All these things were from Me.
