“Making one’s own wounds a source of healing, therefore, does not call for sharing of superficial personal pains, but for a constant willingness to see one’s own pain and suffering as rising from the depth of the human condition which all men share.” – Henri Nouwen
My favorite therapist once said to me, “Jess, your wounds contain your greatest gifts.’ It is often the places that we need to heal that give us the wisdom we have to give to the world. This does not mean that we must stay wounded. Rather, we must acknowledge that we, human that we are, have been wounded at some point in our lives. Rather than shying away or numbing out, look tenderly on those places. There is another that needs to know that they can heal. Perhaps more importantly, that it is safe to walk in the world, to create in the world, even if/when you are wounded. Wounds do not stop us. They help us connect and say, “me, too. And I’m still here. I’ve still created all of this.” Do not be afraid of your wounds. And do not stay on the surface. It is the deep that we need.
Welcome the lessons from your wounds,
Jess
These Soulful Sunday blogs go out weekly on Sundays to be used as a place to step back from the hustle and bustle and explore what your soul might be saying to you. Some folks use these as journal prompts and let loose amidst pages. Some folks bring them to the kitchen table and jam over coffee. Do you, boo.
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