"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."
- Henri Nouwen
What a lovely quote I stumbled upon in this book called Breaking The Rules, in the third chapter titled "Beauty in Brokenness". I think the author of the book is Fil Anderson. There are a lot of other points from this chapter that I will quote from or refer to, so hopefully this is good enough not to violate any copyright laws as that is not my intention.
One of the aspects of Urbana that I really enjoyed was something called "roommate huddles". This was where you got together with a few people, usually in groups of 4 or 5 to reflect about the day together. I liked this because it gave me the opportunity to hear different perspectives and also share mine, all the while processing my thoughts of the day as I speak and listen. My group dynamic was interesting. I was in a group with someone I had known for almost half my life, some people that I talked to occasionally, and someone that I didn't really talk to much. It was good. I liked how everybody was able to open up (as was the nature of the activity) and we were able to really make use of the purpose of having "roommate huddles".
As each day went by, we got to know each other better. We started sharing more about deeper things and issues surfaced that I never thought would be spoken of. Deep hurts were talked about in such profoundly truthful ways, and the fact that everybody shared and was non-judgmental, we were able to overcome the shameful and guilty feelings that usually hold us back from sharing, and ultimately, healing. This was definitely an experience that I was glad I didn't miss. Hearing everybody speak with such raw emotion and truth brought us closer as a family in Christ, and because we brought our deep dark issues out in the open, into the light, we were able to help each other heal. We were able to admit our failures and use other people's shared experiences to work together to repent and grow together. It's because of Satan, who has cleverly used feelings like shame and guilt that prevent us from being able to fully support each other. But once we recognize that everybody is broken, that we all have sinned, we can overcome those feelings of guilt and shame that separate us from our communities and make us want to hide away from God. The author in the book I was reading says,
There are many times where I look back in my life and think about all of the mistakes I've made. Or when I realize how broken I am, I realize that there are still many issues that I haven't dealt with. I can agree with the author when he says,
Many people who call themselves "Christians" (and I am one of them) like to pretend to the world that there is nothing wrong with them. We all want to be "perfect" and we all want to seem like we're "living the life". But the reality is that "we are all broken people living together in a broken world" (quoted from the same book). Maybe that's why so many non-Christians are turned off by us. They see us as hypocrites, people who claim to be "self-righteous" yet do so many wrongs. The truth is that the only difference between Christians and non-Christians is that "Christians" are able to ask God for forgiveness and grace to heal us, whereas non-Christians don't know Christ yet, and don't know of the opportunity to be healed. That is why it is so critical that Christians should want to spread the good news of Jesus and salvation - so that the non-Christians have the chance to be reconciled with God and be saved. We have all sinned and thus were not allowed to be with God after we die (so we'd be sent to hell to be punished forever), but because Jesus (the only man capable of not sinning) died in our place that we are able to come back to live with God after death on earth (so in heaven). We need Jesus.
"The only cure for our brokenness is to stop playing charades, acknowledge our own and each others' brokenness, and become united by the only One who was broken in order to make us whole. [...] I'm incapable of living a perfect life. My life is undeniably broken, and only God can restore me."
There is beauty when we are able to share with our brothers and sisters in Christ our struggles, and use our community to build each other up and help each other out. This might be hard to do because of past incidences where we have dared to open up and be vulnerable to others, but others took advantage of our vulnerability and mistreated us. Perhaps that is why we vowed never to share again, and have tried to go through life on our own. But I have realized that sharing must be done in the right context - with the right people, and for the right reasons. We can not just go around foolishly blabbing out things and hurting and getting hurt by others. The right context is when everybody that is sharing together is sharing so that we can help each other out; not judging one another, and not using what they have dared to share against them in another situation. If you want others to share, you must promise to keep what they have shared in confidence, and not judge them as we are not the ones to judge. Luke 6:37-40 says,
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. [Jesus] also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher."
So we have been hurt. So we have tried to close ourselves from others and unsuccessfully tried to hide our brokenness. But what if you could use your experiences of hurt to heal others? What if your experiences could help someone else overcome their fears of guilt and shame? What if your experiences could be the light in someone else's life? The fact that we connect, understand, and know exactly how that person who is hurting feels. We can use our experiences to help them get through the rough time that you had gone through, we know how to comfort them and help them be reconciled with Jesus. Let us not allow Satan to render us useless in God's kingdom because of the guilt and shame of our actions in the past. Let us become wounded people who can help others come to be healed by Christ. Let us become wounded healers.
I will end with this quote from the same book,
Reading Acts 9&10 today, chapter 9 talks about the Saul to Paul conversion, and chapter 10 is Peter explaining how he came to know that the Kingdom of Heaven is open to any and everyone (both Jews and Gentiles) who believes in Jesus Christ and then can receive the Holy Spirit in them.
- Henri Nouwen
What a lovely quote I stumbled upon in this book called Breaking The Rules, in the third chapter titled "Beauty in Brokenness". I think the author of the book is Fil Anderson. There are a lot of other points from this chapter that I will quote from or refer to, so hopefully this is good enough not to violate any copyright laws as that is not my intention.
One of the aspects of Urbana that I really enjoyed was something called "roommate huddles". This was where you got together with a few people, usually in groups of 4 or 5 to reflect about the day together. I liked this because it gave me the opportunity to hear different perspectives and also share mine, all the while processing my thoughts of the day as I speak and listen. My group dynamic was interesting. I was in a group with someone I had known for almost half my life, some people that I talked to occasionally, and someone that I didn't really talk to much. It was good. I liked how everybody was able to open up (as was the nature of the activity) and we were able to really make use of the purpose of having "roommate huddles".
As each day went by, we got to know each other better. We started sharing more about deeper things and issues surfaced that I never thought would be spoken of. Deep hurts were talked about in such profoundly truthful ways, and the fact that everybody shared and was non-judgmental, we were able to overcome the shameful and guilty feelings that usually hold us back from sharing, and ultimately, healing. This was definitely an experience that I was glad I didn't miss. Hearing everybody speak with such raw emotion and truth brought us closer as a family in Christ, and because we brought our deep dark issues out in the open, into the light, we were able to help each other heal. We were able to admit our failures and use other people's shared experiences to work together to repent and grow together. It's because of Satan, who has cleverly used feelings like shame and guilt that prevent us from being able to fully support each other. But once we recognize that everybody is broken, that we all have sinned, we can overcome those feelings of guilt and shame that separate us from our communities and make us want to hide away from God. The author in the book I was reading says,
"When [brokenness] comes, we often bury the pain and sadness somewhere deep inside, where it simmers and stews and gnaws at our peace, faith and joy. In the process we become even more broken. Despite our attempts to keep it concealed, evidence of our brokenness seeps through and leaves its mark on all of life."
There are many times where I look back in my life and think about all of the mistakes I've made. Or when I realize how broken I am, I realize that there are still many issues that I haven't dealt with. I can agree with the author when he says,
"I hoped that my memory of these horrid events would fade and that others would not detect that anything was wrong with my life. [...] Caught in this trap, I was becoming progressively less the person God created me to be and more a poser."
Many people who call themselves "Christians" (and I am one of them) like to pretend to the world that there is nothing wrong with them. We all want to be "perfect" and we all want to seem like we're "living the life". But the reality is that "we are all broken people living together in a broken world" (quoted from the same book). Maybe that's why so many non-Christians are turned off by us. They see us as hypocrites, people who claim to be "self-righteous" yet do so many wrongs. The truth is that the only difference between Christians and non-Christians is that "Christians" are able to ask God for forgiveness and grace to heal us, whereas non-Christians don't know Christ yet, and don't know of the opportunity to be healed. That is why it is so critical that Christians should want to spread the good news of Jesus and salvation - so that the non-Christians have the chance to be reconciled with God and be saved. We have all sinned and thus were not allowed to be with God after we die (so we'd be sent to hell to be punished forever), but because Jesus (the only man capable of not sinning) died in our place that we are able to come back to live with God after death on earth (so in heaven). We need Jesus.
"The only cure for our brokenness is to stop playing charades, acknowledge our own and each others' brokenness, and become united by the only One who was broken in order to make us whole. [...] I'm incapable of living a perfect life. My life is undeniably broken, and only God can restore me."
There is beauty when we are able to share with our brothers and sisters in Christ our struggles, and use our community to build each other up and help each other out. This might be hard to do because of past incidences where we have dared to open up and be vulnerable to others, but others took advantage of our vulnerability and mistreated us. Perhaps that is why we vowed never to share again, and have tried to go through life on our own. But I have realized that sharing must be done in the right context - with the right people, and for the right reasons. We can not just go around foolishly blabbing out things and hurting and getting hurt by others. The right context is when everybody that is sharing together is sharing so that we can help each other out; not judging one another, and not using what they have dared to share against them in another situation. If you want others to share, you must promise to keep what they have shared in confidence, and not judge them as we are not the ones to judge. Luke 6:37-40 says,
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. [Jesus] also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher."
So we have been hurt. So we have tried to close ourselves from others and unsuccessfully tried to hide our brokenness. But what if you could use your experiences of hurt to heal others? What if your experiences could help someone else overcome their fears of guilt and shame? What if your experiences could be the light in someone else's life? The fact that we connect, understand, and know exactly how that person who is hurting feels. We can use our experiences to help them get through the rough time that you had gone through, we know how to comfort them and help them be reconciled with Jesus. Let us not allow Satan to render us useless in God's kingdom because of the guilt and shame of our actions in the past. Let us become wounded people who can help others come to be healed by Christ. Let us become wounded healers.
I will end with this quote from the same book,
"If we really believe the gospel we proclaim, we'll be honest about our own beauty and brokenness, and the beautiful broken One will make himself known to our neighbours through the chinks in our armour - and in theirs. God uses our brokenness, reflected in our failures, heartaches, disappointments and betrayals, to reach out to the hurting people who surround us."
Reading Acts 9&10 today, chapter 9 talks about the Saul to Paul conversion, and chapter 10 is Peter explaining how he came to know that the Kingdom of Heaven is open to any and everyone (both Jews and Gentiles) who believes in Jesus Christ and then can receive the Holy Spirit in them.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Feel free to leave a comment.