I recently got an email through this website from a young woman who left a cult four years ago. It was an extremely touching email and she found the site through referral of someone who used to be in my life.

When I get these emails, I feel a lightening bolt splits me in two. One half wants to avenge the wrongdoer and the other half wants me to comfort the wronged. I can’t avenge the wrongdoer. But, one of my hopes in this writing is to do what I can to stop this cycle. So many people who are wronged and can’t speak about their trauma repeat the abusive cycle. So, I am grateful when people talk and find ways to express themselves, opening themselves to healing.

I get encouraged in this naked expression, this blog. It seems that when I feel like I’ve run out of things to say or I fear what I have to say a message like this one comes through.

And it also made me look from older eyes at the person who told this young woman about my site. At how very similar we are in some ways and how I was not as kind to her as I could have been.

There are quite a few people who have scared me because I don’t like what I see reflected in the mirror they hold up to me. The email I received has made me feel so differently about this friend as well.

A very unexpected gift, well timed and well received. Thank you.