It was an honor to represent the Santa Barbara Wellness Team, Santa Barbara Response Network and Santa Barbara County Psychological Association in offering support to the hundreds of people who gathered last night to mourn the victims of the Conception dive boat tragedy together. What a beautiful and healing gathering. I thought the words that were shared by all who spoke were powerful and meaningful and the music and the sounding of the shofar went right to the soul. While I may have only offered flowers, water, and tissues, I believe that our presence there was supportive and valuable. Gratitude was shared with me for just being there.
For me, being of service in times like these is what helps me process and integrate tragedy. Bearing witness to pain and being able to tolerate and embrace it, is one thing I know that I do well. Maybe it is a unique skill reserved for those of us in the mental health and health fields. Last night, as the sun was easing down behind the palms and casting a golden hue over the large crowd of people bearing flowers for the 34 victims and Amazing Grace was bathing us all, seeing the way people were holding onto one another, offering hugs, holding hands, reaching out for one another physically and emotionally, I was struck with the demonstration of the connectedness of love and grief. What a deeply touching experience to see grief and mourning as one of the most profound and raw expressions of love. The love that was offered and received in the crowd of mourners last night was truly breathtaking. My greatest hope is that the families of the deceased, who live far from here, have communities that hold them like ours did last night. I also hope that those brave and stoic first and second responders have the support they need too. Our responders have been so taxed these past few years.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide support and for inevitably ending up being supported in the process.