Nobody escapes being wounded. We all are wounded people, whether physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. The main question is not “How can we hide our wounds?” so we don’t have to be embarrassed, but “How can we put our woundedness in the service of others?” When our wounds cease to be a source of shame, and become a source of healing, we have become wounded healers.
Jesus is God’s wounded healer: through his wounds we are healed. Jesus’ suffering and death brought joy and life. His humiliation brought glory; his rejection brought a community of love. As followers of Jesus we can also allow our wounds to bring healing to others.
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July 8, 2008 at 11:34 am
Jana Allard
Hiding wounds gives a pretense that life is perfect. Licking wounds requests sympathy. Learning from wounds gives knowledge to help others.
July 8, 2008 at 11:40 am
Karen Hopper
Helen, I truly appreciate your “wounded” postings. We are a people of wounds, some so deep that there would seem to be no relief. However, these wounds which we have no control over and carry through life can be treated to relieve the pain through His comforting touch.
July 8, 2008 at 12:30 pm
writeathome
Great post! I like the comment Jana made above too. So true.
July 8, 2008 at 12:46 pm
helenl
Hi Jana, Karen, Carol,
Sure God sees us as perfect, but people don’t. If we pretend life is perfect, people know we are liars. Our wounds can be our greatest witness. “We have this treasure in earthen vessels.” And so can anyone who seeks Him.
July 8, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Mervi
Helenl:
Question Please
I am of the opinion that God sees me as I am wounds, hurts, imperfections and all. Yet, I may try to appear as whole and without wounds, hurts, imperfections and all to my fellow man? Yes this, in my opinion, is a form of hypocrisy.
Mervi
July 8, 2008 at 5:32 pm
helenl
Mervi, It is hypocrisy to pretend we ahve no wounds.
July 8, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Jana Allard
Helen – I want to add a couple thoughts. Our friend, Karen, has suffered the tragic loss of a son, a horrific accident that nearly killed her husband, she deals with her husband’s frailties, and she understands wounds. She is one that can give compassion and strength and is one of the kindest lady I know. From her wounds, she has learned to speak compassion, love, and kindness to others who are wounded. Karen is a perfect example of this post.
I was also reminded of a song my husband sometimes sings and some of the lyrics are, “A loser without direction, I drifted aimlessly, on the backside of a place called no where, forgotten by humanity, when they talked about potential, they did not refer to me, for everyone could clearly see, what I was, I’d always be, but He saw not what I was, He saw what I could be, when He reached His hand to where I was, He took a chance on me, for all He had to hope for, was just a possibility, still He saw not what I was, He saw what I could be.”
July 8, 2008 at 11:53 pm
helenl
Jana, The kind of kindness (understanding) that comes from one’s wounds can heal us all. We are all wounded. And those who don’t know they are wounded may the most wounded among us.
Those are some beautiful lyrics.
July 9, 2008 at 9:32 am
Sherry Chandler
[...] Windows Toward the World, Helen Losse featured this quote from Henry Nouwen: Nobody escapes being wounded. We all are [...]