Let’s face it: we all have wounds, and some are deeper than others. On the show Bones we see a forensic anthropologist who sees and studies wounds in our very bones. Temperance Brennan studies bones (hence the name of the show) and through her studies she sees the wounds that we bear. In fact, she identifies people by their wounds. When a person dies or is murdered and is unidentified, she studies their bones. By looking closely at the bones, Dr. Brennan learns about the wounds that each person has had. These wounds may have healed on the surface, the skin may show no signs of the wound, but the bones underneath tell another story.
Isn’t this how it is in relationships too?
On the surface our wounds appear to be healed. The skin shows little to no signs of any wounds, but our bones tell a different story. As we get to know one another, as our relationships deepen, we unearth wounds that have long been forgotten. This happens among friends, but it happens in an even more profound way with our significant others. When it comes to our closest relationships, we open our hearts and with that, we allow someone to discover our deepest wounds.
Often times we forget about our own wounds. We feel that our wounds have been healed, and in some cases, they have. However, scars remain. As Dr. Brennan knows, wounds can often go deeper than we realize. When we get closer to someone, we slowly begin to shed our layers, we get to know each other deeply and with that deepening knowledge of one another, we also see each other’s wounds. On one level, this looks a little scary, right? Who really wants to bear their soul to another, to unearth the deepest, most painful wounds for anyone else to see?
But, on another level, these scars are beautiful. We can be identified by our wounds. In this sense, our scars make us who we are. Our scars are not something to be ashamed of, but they make us who we are. Christ’s wounds, the wounds on His hands and feet and the piercing of His side, makes Him who He is, especially to the apostle Thomas. Isaiah, in his prophesies of Jesus writes, “by his wounds we were healed.” Wounds, as we see with Christ, are not all bad, as the world so often tries to tell us. Wounds heal us. Our wounds unite us to Christ. By His wounds we are healed, and by our own wounds we are united to Christ, and Christ is united to us. Christ comes to us in our woundedness, in our brokenness and offers us Himself. He offers His wounds for us that we might be whole in Him.
When we find that relationship that breaks open our hearts and exposes our deepest wounds, it shouldn’t be an opportunity to run. Rather, it is an opportunity to be healed, but more importantly, to be united with Christ. Praised be Jesus Christ for our wounds and for using all things – even our most painful wounds – to draw us closer to Himself.
