Vulnerability

My 17  year old son says that the movie, The Greatest Showman, has changed his life.  He has seen it three times.  I’ve been only once, but it does have a profound effect on any age.

(If you didn’t see the movie) The movie is based on the life of PT Barnum, his vision, determination and the circus.  It depicts how Barnum goes out and tries to find all of the unusual people he that he can – the bearded lady, a 2 foot man, a naturally tattooed man… you get the drift. The circus becomes a sensation.

Lately I have had  a lot of material put in front of me on the subject of vulnerability.  The characters in the movie were vulnerable because they had to be.  They wore their scars on the outside.  They could not hide their wounds or who they were from the physical world.

We all have wounds, secrets, hurts and pain that we are able to keep hidden within ourselves.  We aren’t forced to show the world. 

Being vulnerable is scary.  Putting on a facade of having everything together is much cleaner, safer and easier. But, when we share our bruises and how we have been battered, that is when others can relate.  That is when we can help others to begin healing and continue on our own journey of mending.

When we are vulnerable we honor God.  We are being humble and helping others feel His comfort and presence. The hard and terrible that we came through is not wasted.  He redeems it by allowing us to share about His saving grace.

I dealt with a  paralyzing case of anxiety for years. It got to the point that I would wake up at 5:30 every morning and run.  I was like Forest.  I just ran.

God would speak to me on these runs.  I would wake up excited about what He would share each time.  As soon as I got home I would go straight to my notebook and write down His words, comfort and verses He would bring to mind. It was a difficult time, but as I look back, I remember it with fondness.  His presence was undeniable. The notebook is coffee stained, has scribbles from my kids and is dog eared.  It is precious to me.

Recently, one of my dearest friends struggled with the same horrific misery.  I shared with her my journey.  I let her borrow my most precious notebook.  As the weeks progressed, she would mention things from the journal that touched her and scripture that she had memorized.  I began seeing a clear difference in her as she spent time with God, meditated on His Word, and was able to share her hardship in a safe place.

After a couple of months, the journal was returned to me.  She said it had helped her through one of the most difficult times in her life.  The journal was written for her.  God knew she would need His words, comfort and presence as I had.

The next time you begin to hide your scars, consider sharing them.  Those scars make us who we are.  God can use your wounds to help someone else find healing.

Now you have to download the song, This Is Me, if you haven’t already.