Monday, June 11, 2007
Patterns
February and April came and went, and June has begun. All three months serve as little more than reminders that certain wounds simply do not heal. There will always be scars. Perhaps it can be argued that the true measure of a man's life can be found in the manner with which he carried on his life despite the disfigurements which fate has brought upon him. Perhaps it is true that some wounds will never stop bleeding.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Great to hear from you, bro.
It's true that scars remain: we must take up our cross if we are to follow Him.
However, God does want to heal us. He does wish to stop the bleeding in a firm but gentle way. Sometimes it can take a while, true. But it never sounds accusing or produces shame; that's the voice of evil.
God produces remorse, which is crucially different from shame, because we can then turn to him and ask for mercy, which he always wants to give. He does not wish us to be in perpetual pain.
Reject any thoughts, feelings, or desires that accuse, produce anxiety, bring on shame, or move you away from God. Accept and protect the thoughts, feelings, and desires that gently uncover the roots of wounds, that lead toward remorse and contrition, that cause one to be humble before God in saying, "I can't do it, but you can, and you promised us all that you would."
That's the Ignatian approach, and it has worked wonders with the wounds of my past, praise God! You'll be in my prayers, brother.
Post a Comment