In the midst of reading I often wonder, “why am I reading this?” (Maybe you feel that way right now).
I’ve been reading a lot of Richard Rohr lately (Kansas boys must stick together) and I must admit I skipped over stuff simply because I thought well, ok, this is good but why am I reading this ….. but today I was reminded why reading widely matters.
“Those who whine about parents and authority for too long invariably remain or become narcissists themselves. It has been acceptable for some time in America to remain ‘wound identified’ (that is, using one’s victimhood as one’s identity, one’s ticket to sympathy, and one’s excuse for not serving), instead of using the wound to “redeem the world,” as we see in Jesus and many who turn their wound into sacred wounds that liberate both themselves and other.” (Richard Rohr)
As I read this a few days ago, (and wondering why) I resigned myself to pray over my own past and my own processing. I searched myself looking for any areas of a “victim mentality” that might be lurking in the shadows of my soul. After several days I moved on. I felt good about my prayer, and about what I though Richard had taught me through his words.
Then, around the corner, out of nowhere, a “wounded person wounded me.” Stunned, shocked, silenced, I slowly gathered my own thoughts … and Richard’s words came rushing back into my soul.
“It has been acceptable for some time in America to remain ‘wound identified’ (that is, using one’s victimhood as one’s identity, one’s ticket to sympathy, and one’s excuse for not serving), instead of using the wound to ‘redeem the world,’…”
I begin to feel guilty, condemned, confused. ‘What had I done?’ ‘Did I do something wrong?’
Have you ever felt this?
Jesus turned His wounded into “sacred wounds,” not excuses for wounding others. Far too often we have allowed “wounded people to wound others,” without calling them into participating in their own healing.
Jesus asked, “What do you want?” “Do you want to be well?” “Do you want to get over your past?” or “Do you want to remain wounded?”
We’ve all be wounded? We must however, receive the “balm” that comes from God’s love. We must not allow our wounds to define us. We must have an “identity” that does not come from our wounds, but from His Healing Presence.
It took a moment, but I slowly realized that “wounded people wound people.”
Thank you Richard for writing, thank you Lord for bringing me to these words, for preparing my heart for today.
May God heal our wounds…
May we live out of our healing and recovery.
