slavery

According to the Walk Free Foundation (2018), there are approximately 40.3 million slaves across the world at this moment. Those slaves are victims of sex trafficking, debt bondage, descent-based slavery, forced marriage, forced labor, and child labor. Just in case you thought slavery was a thing of the past and that human beings have learned from their mistakes, think again…slavery is very much alive, and traffickers generate roughly $150 billion a year, according to Human Rights First (2018).

Having worked with victims of sexual abuse, neglect, and domestic violence, I cringe when I think of the day-to-day existence of those modern-day slaves. I have worked with young people whose trauma lead to an ongoing fight against nightmares, flashbacks, fears, anxieties, panic attacks, intrusive thoughts and feelings of worthlessness. Some of those individuals experience those symptoms every single day and have horrifyingly vivid nightmares throughout the night, if they can fall asleep at all. It is something no human being should even think of.

I don’t think anybody would disagree that the minds of those poor victims are severely damaged. Most of them, if not all, would need intense psychological help so they could lead a semi “normal” life. However, as damaged as those slaves may be, I don’t believe they are as psychologically crippled as their perpetrators. They may come in the form of wealthy business owners, well-known politicians, Hollywood elite, a church leader who puts on a saint mask, or innocent-looking Joe who lives down the street. The character flaw that underlie those people is much harder to deal with, as they have learned to lie to themselves so well that they can masterfully rationalize the absurd to an almost imperceptible degree. In a very real sense, they are the ones who are truly enslaved. They are slaves of their own desires. Selfishness is indeed the most cruel of masters.

Whether we talk about modern slave owners, corruption, developers of pyramid schemes, the compulsive gambler who throws his time and money away, the family member who tries to escape life through a shiny glass of alcohol, the woman who self-medicates with shopping, or the adolescent who has created a virtual entertainment hut in order avoid the “pain” of normalcy; it’s not hard to see the common denominator: they are all trying to fill a void in their soul. The problem is that genuine satisfaction and peace of mind is not easy to come across, so we must keep trying. Although the vast majority of us are not slaves, we have largely fallen victims to our own desires in one way or another. I use the word “victim” very carefully, as I do not believe we are powerless when faced with temptations. We must never forget that at the end of the day, no matter how hard our “slave master” hits us, we have the freedom to choose. Nonetheless, it is helpful to admit our shortcomings with regards to our weaknesses and be open to an outside source of support and guidance when needed. At the very least, we can start by owning up to those vulnerabilities and getting on the path to healing. After all, it’s healing that we need, both as individuals and as passengers on this massive spherical spaceship.

Given our condition, and even if we take a quick analysis of the pain, suffering, and injustice that surround us, the picture looks pretty grim. Chances are you have been through horrifying tragedies yourself and have experienced that pain that no words can express. Chances are that you have also been at the causal end of other people’s pain.

Whether our existence in this world is generally sad but punctuated by happy moments, or generally happy but punctuated by sad moments may be a matter of perspective; however, the “sad” aspect is very real no matter how you look at it. There are times when health, wealth, and comfort cannot wipe away our tears. There are times when it all looks pointless, and the brightest day feels like a cold rainy night.

If you have been at either end of the slave chain, I’m sorry. I don’t know your particular scenario, but I do know this: you have scars. Those scars may very well remain there until your last day. Now you are left with a choice. And yes, I still believe we have choices. Are your scars defining you, or are you defining your scars?