Some people are afraid of what they might find if they try to analyze themselves too much, but you have to crawl into your wounds to discover where your fears are. Once the bleeding starts, the cleansing can begin. – Tori Amos
As the road rash from my most recent bike wreck is slowly starting to heal, the pain of my second degree sunburn from the same day is getting just a little worse. The crackling of my torn skin, along with the bubbling of the sun blisters on my back have imbibed me with reflection upon the role of wounds in our life.
Wounds and scars remind of us the beautiful story that has made us ourselves. They also force us to slow down our lives, for if we don’t, they simply won’t heal. I am spending this beautiful Memorial Day Weekend seeking refuge from the 95 degree Virginia heat and sun, even though I would love nothing more than to be pool side with a cocktail in hand. My skin needs rest, and it is not letting me forget that.
Sometimes our wounds aren’t as loud and instructive to us as my current road rash and burn; sometimes we try to shove down emotional wounds, life wounds, hoping to lose them in the darkness of busyness. Our hearts are no fool, these wounds only resurface if not healed. Crawl into your wounds and discover what the real pain feels like so that the cleansing process may begin. Turn your wounds into wisdom and take respite in the shade of life to let the burns heal.