Fiona’s Fire
Always a sucker for a perfect Pitchfork review, I had to check out Fiona Apple’s newest album, Fetch the Bolt Cutters. I was particularly struck by the song, “Relay”, and the following lyrics:
Evil is a relay sport
When the one who’s burned
Turns to pass the torch…
This is not the place for me to dissect the nature or existence of evil, but this pattern described is one I often see in my office, and one that I have personal experience with as well. None of us get out of this life without getting burned to some degree; and how many of us have not then turned to pass along the torch?
If you’ve been betrayed, abused, neglected, or hurt in any way, you need a place to heal and process the damage; otherwise, you are destined to pass along the hurt. Perhaps you’re passing the torch in your current relationship or to anyone who crosses your path. Or maybe, you continue to pass the torch to other parts of yourself, exacerbating your own pain.
I’m accustomed to dealing with burns and I consider it an honor to do so. I have plenty of scars myself.