Scars

Regardless of who you are, I feel quite sure that you might have one or two visible scars on your body due to some sort of mishap. We all usually remember exactly where, when and how each scar came into existance, no matter how long ago it happened. We are stuck with these scars and we learn to deal with their presence. We really have no choice but to do so. Through automobile accidents and other careless activities, I have quite a few of these visible reminders. I once hated my scars, but today, I see them as the fingerprints of God. This might sound ridiculous, but I am going to tell you why I feel this way.

I have several small scars on my face from more than one car accident. In each accident, I was injured, but not like I could have been. Even when I didn't realize it, the Lord was right there by my side. He was there when I crawled out of the window of an overturned van. He was there when I was ejected from a truck and ended up in a rainsoaked field out in the middle of nowhere. In each instance, I received only minor bodily injury. I received small scars when, by all rights, I should have been dead. That's why I bear the fingerprints of God. That's why I love my scars.

If you have not been physically scarred, I know with certainty that you carry other scars instead. I am speaking of emotional scars. No matter who you are, I knw that you, like me, have received more than one of these. Careless words, actions and hurtful intentions of others leave us with deep emotional scars. Our own selfish actions create gashes. Physical abuse, drug abuse and life in general can leave us looking like Freddie Kruger on the inside. These scars take the longest time to heal. These scars require more than Neosporin and stitches. These scars can only be healed by the love of God.

The love of God...that's right! We must be touched by the hand of the Master before emotional scars can fully heal. When He provides the healing, hate, envy, jealousy, sadness, confusion, lonliness, chaos and despair will surely disappear. He alone is the healer. God is the ultimate physician. He is the Specialist, the Master, the Ultimate Authority over ALL areas of our lives. When we allow Him into our lives, God heals our wounds.

Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds their wounds

I love that scripture and the metaphor you used in this one. Our God is so awesome, he can even use the old scars he's healed us of as tools for healing others. We have not suffered for no reason. Once we've been through pain, we can connect with others who are going through it too. Much like your writings. You've managed to use your pain to give others hope, teachings, and reassurance. Great work!

Thank you! God Bless!

Faith is belief without seeing...is it not?
If you see a person with a bad limp walking with a cane entering a store, you instinctively know to hold the door open for them. We react instinctively to visual stimulus. But the hidden scars of neglect, abuse physical, sexual. emotional, etc. Sometimes go undetected. We interact and react to people without the advantage or benefit of having a full spectrum view of them. Sometimes it is a knee-jerk reaction, sometimes a delayed reaction, sometimes if we can't figure it out or the person does not conform to a given norm we tend to well...judge. It's human nature, but Christ gives us pause to reflect before reacting doesn't always work like clockwork our wills often get in the way but given the "pauses" eventually begins to have an effect on the reaction times and thin skins begin to thicken a bit as we grow in discernment. Better to heal slowly, grow slowly, patiently as we learn patience than to rush headlong across another bridge to nowhere.
I really believe that God heals us all very differently according to our unique and special needs ("different people for different things are indifferent to time").
And what we are able to assess or discern from an external view is not the same spiritual, emotional mri, cat scan, x-ray, hubble micro-scope (yes i said micro) that God can see us through. Those two disciples on the road to Emmaus stood in the very presence of the Lord listened to him on a day's long journey and still could not discern who He was. God reveals Himself to whom he chooses whenever and however he so chooses.
It doesn't mean we'll have the slightest clue as to what to do when he does aside from pray. That takes time and much patience. If a tender voice whispered to you in the morning as you were rousing from your slumber "be prepared" would you think it was sorcery, mental illness, witchcraft? Would you disregard it as imagined, dreamt? Or would you wonder..."be prepared...for what?" and pray about it. As I type out this response I have to constantly remind myself of how much I do not know rather than revel in how much I do know and try to understand that the very things I say or write are at times the very things I'm still struggling to learn myself or convey to others. I'm sure that in schools and in churches in offices, we've all run across those who are ill-suited for their chosen vocations. And even as we observe this we miss the "beam" so to speak of our own poorly chosen vocations in fact broken inside ourselves in ways we are oblivious to. None are perfect...but discussion is awesome isn't it, being a good listener or reader is equally if not more important than speaking or writing. Trying to find a good balance myself.
It's all relevant to healing, a doctor can assist in physical healing but those deep wounds scars gashes etc. that require the Lord's intervention sometimes require so much behind the scenes work in a chain of people and broken relationships it's beyond anything we can fathom. They take time and sometimes, as I learned the hard way...it requires stepping aside removing the safety net and allowing someone you love to fall right on their keister but being the first to extend a hand when they're ready to stand back up. I hope I didn't stray too off-topic.
Always a pleasure to read you.


God Bless.

I think you extended nicely. A lot of great points oneagleswings.

Yes, thank you for additional viewpoints!

Thank you for giving so much notice to the "extension" didn't really think it was all that significant really.
And i'm sure we all have at least a couple of good points in us.

God Bless.