“In a futile attempt to erase our past, we deprive the community of our healing gift. If we conceal our wounds out of fear and shame, our inner darkness can neither be illuminated nor become a light for others.”- Brennan Manning, Abba’s Child
Matt Bays concludes Chapter 13 of Finding God in the Ruins by telling the story of Christian singer and songwriter Matt Redman. One of Matt Redman’s songs, “Blessed Be Your Name”, reflects the ebb and flow of joy and pain in his life. Matt Redman’s wife has suffered four miscarriages. His father took his own life when Matt was a young child. At the age of seven, Matt was abused by a sexual predator.
Pastor Bays states that when Matt Redman told his story at a concert he attended, at that moment heaven flooded the concert hall with light. There almost was no place to hide. Pastor Bays summarizes:
“Matt Redman told . . . us that we were not alone. His story did a swan dive right into our hearts and promised us hope. He had shown us what it looked like to tell the whole truth.”
When you cover a wound with a bandage for too long, the wound doesn’t get better. Matt Bays compares that to our soul wounds:
“The wounds on our souls also need air. Vulnerability, saying what happened, means ripping the bandage off so our stories can breathe.”
You might feel that revisiting your past will break you. As Matt encourages, perhaps revisiting your past will make you instead.
Today’s question: What do you believe to be your healing gift? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: the new Short Meditation, “Rainbow Days”
