Issue 230
Even the healthiest among us carry wounds. We all have personal histories which include put-downs, insults and unpleasantness. For some we have experienced downright abuse; injustice and damaging behaviour on the part of others has left its mark. The wounds can be particularly deep if inflicted on a child by a parent and the effects stay for many years. So it is not surprising that as you travel to work you carry a wound, a scar or a limp. Some writers have identified the common wound that many men carry as that of not being affirmed or encouraged by a father. The result at work can be an excessive drive for success fuelled by a desire to be someone in someone’s eyes. Others have reflected that for women low self-image can often feed on the fears and insecurities along the life-path or career-path where they have trodden or been trodden upon. At least in this there is equality. There is no glass ceiling when it comes to pain. We all bear the marks of humanity in our souls. Everybody hurts – somehow.
For Jesus of Nazareth the wounds were constant as he suffered the injustice and opposition of those who didn’t ‘get’ him for three years. However, as his work reached its zenith, the wounds became clear and defined. Damage to the head and face, the back, the wrists and ankles and finally his side, formed an injury list so stark and graphic as to be hard to contemplate.
Yet, there is a dynamic here for you, week by week: Jesus took these wounds and turned them into work – the work of rescue. He endured them and embraced them in order to use them for the purposes of God. Far from paralysing him, they were harnessed to release a power of mystical transformation. In case you are losing me I am thinking that ‘by his wounds we are healed’.
How then can we as his followers put our wounds to work for us? It’s too profound for this piece to be comprehensive but consider these few steps: Firstly accept and admit to the existence of the wound. Angry, perfectionist, over-compensatory behaviour may get the job done for a while but will destroy you and those around you. If you pretend all is well when it is not, eventually you will lose your way personally and professionally. Your values will become distorted, your ambitions self-centred and the results will seem unrewarding. Admitting to yourself that you carry wounds, and even exploring what they are, is strategic.
Secondly, come to a decision as to what to do with your wounds. You can begin to harness them for God. So rather than carry bitterness you can develop forgiveness. Rather than believe the lies about yourself you can listen to the Father who is pleased with you. Rather than rubbish yourself you can celebrate yourself with gratitude to the God who designed you very well. Thirdly, you may consider strengthening someone else who carries wounds. A successful growing individual can be an immense help to someone else simply by understanding their wounds. To be even the tiniest bit open about our journey can energise others to move forwards. There will be a depth and power about you at work if you can embrace your wounds, harness them for God and reach out to the person nearest you on the ladder.
Isaiah 53:4-5
4 Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by His wounds we are healed.
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Work well
Geoff Shattock
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