Calls Beyond The Storm – Living In A Connected World

By The Rev. Christopher Smith. Posted on Nov 9th 2012.

Natural disasters help highlight relationships and interconnectedness in today's world

Our world has become connected in ways that a couple of decades ago could only have barely been imagined. Often this is taken primarily as a matter of technology, a matter of ease of getting information, a matter of the speed of effects being felt in distant places. Hurricane Sandy and its impact in the Northeast along with all the calls that were made beyond the storm show that our connected world has also created new patterns of relationships.

The work of a marriage and family therapist is often about problems that exist in significant relationships and ways to build strength into relationships. The relationships that arise from living in a connected world are very different and can even exist between people who do not even know each other. Communications I have been involved in about the storm show how these relationships have their own way of having an impact on us.

More from YourTango: 10 Alternate Mother's Day Activities

The first message I read after working overnight in an evacuation center was an alert from the city announcing that there was serious damage to a sister congregation in Manhattan. No real details but still my thoughts went out to them and at the same time I saw this as positive news about my own church. Note that I had not heard from anyone involved with that church, but yet I felt more connected to what was going on. Not long after this, a theology student in Buffalo also felt more connected to the storm and posted “Prayers go out to everyone who is being affected in New York City by the hurricane”. Why did I feel that he was trying to be too close to a situation that he was not really connected to?

Want more advice? Find an expert near you!

Article contributed by

View profile

Advanced Member

The Rev. Christopher Smith

Counselor/Therapist

The Rev. Christopher L. Smith, LMFT has served as a national leader around mental health issues both within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and in professional counseling organizations. He works directly with individuals, couples, families and supervisees as the Clinical Director of Seeking Shalom in New York City. He also brings his insight to help a wider audience through writing, speaking and consultations.

Location: New York, NY

Credentials: LAC, LMFT, LMHC, MDiv, MS, SAP

Specialties: Couples/Marital Issues, Forgiveness, Spiritual

Website: http://www.SeekingShalom.org

Other Articles/News by The Rev. Christopher Smith:

10 Alternate Mother's Day Activities

By The Rev. Christopher Smith

Mother's Day can become very routine. You call your mother. You take her out to lunch. You take this opportuntiy to express your love and gratitude to her. However, Mother's Day is an opportunity to look at the bigger picture and to engage in some alternate activities. Here is a countdown of 10 activities that you might ... Read more

My Relationship Is In Trouble, Could a Pastoral Counselor Help?

By The Rev. Christopher Smith

There are so many types of counselors out there. If your relationship is in trouble, who can you turn to? An LPC? LMHC? LMFT? LCSW? Psychologist? Pastoral Counselor?Lucy from Peanuts? Some other designation? Is a pastoral counselor qualified to handle relationship difficulties? Mental health professionals do come in a wide variety of flavors and ... Read more

Overcoming Tragedy: The Death Of Your Child

By The Rev. Christopher Smith

When we hear tragic news stories, we can't help but picture ourselves and our loved ones placed at the center of such events. The deaths of Audrey Pott in California, Rehtaeh Parsons in Nova Scotia and 8-year-old Martin Richard have broken hearts around the world — not to mention the hearts of their parents who are left behind. Audrey Pott, ... Read more