Eve Ensler was physically and sexually abused by her father while growing up. This drove her to become an activist and playwright. She gained a very controversial yet monumental role in women’s rights.
She has spent most of her life talking, listening, traveling the world, helping women. Ensler met women who were raped in Bosnia, cut in Kenya, destroyed in Afghanistan. She used the very thing that had broken her to encourage women. She urged them not to become bound by the awful things that happened.
While she is a controversial activist and playwright Ensler carries another title proudly: cancer survivor. Eve was diagnosed with uterine cancer. Three days later she had a nine-hour operation. She lost many organs and nodes. It was a life changing event.
It was through her illness that she began to experience true healing. According to an interview she had on the Today Show, “For years I carried around such darkness, such sorrow, such self-hatred. When I would sit with the port and five hours of chemotherapy juice would go into my body I would visualize it burning away.”
Ensler challenged women to respect their bodies no matter what society says. She struggled with the same insecurities as the women she encountered all over the world. She disassociated herself from her violated body. She felt ashamed of what had happened to her.
She also believed the lies of western society that define beauty and determines what a woman is expected to look like. Who would have thought that her diagnosis of cancer would become the wake up she needed all along?
Armed with this new self-awareness and love for her life she has been able to more effectively communicate with women. Eve has been able to help women overcome obstacles.
These women learn how to begin rebuilding their life. This is a broken world filled with broken people who hope for wholeness.
There is hope. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, came to give each of us the opportunity to begin again. He took the pain of our failures on His shoulders. He bore the pain of our brokenness on His back. He is willing to give you new life and new hope.
It begins with a simple prayer: “Dear Jesus, I am sorry for the wrong things I have done. I am broken and need healing. I am tired of the pain life dealt me. Please give me new life as I declare You to be Lord and Savior of my life. In Jesus’ name, amen!”
If you prayed that prayer, click the button below and someone will contact you to help you take the next step toward wholeness.
-Catherine Anderson
