I read a news piece about a man who recently regained his sight.
Made me think about the people that Jesus healed, in that they may have been made whole, but had to learn how to incorporate the healing into their everyday lives. The man who recently regained his sight (he lost it at three years) had to learn again what things were and how to relate to simple everyday occurrences as one who can see—no simple task, come to find out. The brain has to learn everything again, literally through new eyes.
When Jesus made the blind see again, I somehow do not think they knew how to totally function. They were healed and whole, but had some work to do. I have read the analogy of this like one walking out of a labyrinth, imagery that speaks volumes.
Coming out from a very controlling and abusive religious situation I realize that re-programming (learning to see and respond to people and normal circumstances) will take some time.
Although much of the wounds are gone over lost relationships and severed trust, I know these scars will mark my life. But, then I think of another who is marked by the scars man has given Him, and I am humbled at the price He paid, "for the joy set before Him."
10 comments:
Oh, yes, it takes time. And more, I think it takes support. I know that it's always been good to have a spouse who could reorient me and say that stuff is over; you can live differently now.
I've contemplated some of Jesus' miracles and find it interesting that He even asks sometimes: do you want to be healed? For some, it may have been easier to just sit on the side of the road and beg.
And so Jesus deals with us gently, over time. Peace, my friend.
Laura, truly my wife helped so much and often she will say, "There is the man I married!" and I know I climbed out of the muck another rung. She is amazing, truly.
Having the perspective of time has helped me to re-visit and learn.
LM,Good point here. Continuing to choose to be healed and live like a healed person through the doubts and uncomfortable situations is all a part of my journey.
When a rodeo clown gets a horn in the back, he learns to sidestep the bull a little more quickly after the bruise fades. The hard part is getting back in the ring with the bulls for the first time, but ya gotta. Even getting gored again (recently) has been painful, but has helped me leave more of bull #1 behind. Bull #2 had his horns cut off and was sent out to pasture. Yeeha!
A recent lesson for me from Romans 16 - verse 17 says to "avoid them" and verse 19 says "I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil" - so, you will learn and see and begin to just walk away when necessary - it's nice to know that the goring doesn't have to go forever.
Ah, wives. Aren't they great? (If I do say so myself :)
Hello! Long time, no see. :o) I came by for a visit and was touched by this post.
For whatever reason, I think we can become attached to or defined by our brokenness and be afraid of what being healed will mean. I know how to be broken, it is familiar territory for me. How do I live as a healed, whole person?? Living as healed and whole can be oddly frightening at times, I think.
Not sure why, just spewing some thoughts here. Thanks for the post ... it got the wheels in my head (& in my heart) turning.
Kirsten, Hey, thanks for stopping by and letting me hear your heart. I am always moved by your comments on my blog and when I read your comments on other sites.
"Living as a healed, whole person," makes me think again that when Jesus healed folks, he said, "your faith has made you whole." That's pretty powerful. I want this.
I do think there are those who continue to allow their lives to be defined by a tragedy, and also those who bury the tragedy, never processing it (thinking they are moving on) until one day un-set bones that healed crooked won't allow them to stand, and I don't want this—I am more of a cartwheel type of personality.
One of my hopes with blogging is to regain godly perspective from the Body, and I think this is actually painful to do (like setting a broken bone) because I have to willing walk back through certain memories at times. Something I don't wish to do a lot of, but as we live by revelation, as all believers (and artists) do, I have to flow with it.
I too realize that some things will have to go unresolved, and that's okay too. Rule number three applies (see my fourth post in February.)
Profound thoughts, all. I am walking through this healing myself now, exposing specific wounds and asking for healing in these areas. I also believe that the Body will be instrumental in this too.
It is my temptation to distract myself from these hurts, or numb myself completely. If we go about our lives with "unset bones", as you say, how effective can we be, or better said, how can the Lord use us to reach others when we are not even letting Him touch us?
It sounds all poetic to my ears to "embrace the pain" and to be "refined as though by fire", but walking through it is a painful, heartbreaking, and gut-wrenching process. But I believe our Savior walks through it with us and that new life is waiting on the other side.
Kirsten, praying for believers who are close to you to be sensitive to the pain you are walking through, and that your hands would also reach out for help.
I agree: how can we help to heal and love others if we will not allow Him to work in our own healing.
We are one body in Christ. With our hands and hearts united, we will make it through this day, and then the next. And even through reading blog comments from someone I have never met in person, Jesus shows up and says, "you are never alone." Very cool.
Glad you stopped in, Kirsten.
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