It’s true that our brokenness can be a bridge to experiencing God, for it makes us realize how much we need Him, His mercy and grace. When we let others know us in our woundedness and shame, we may also come to know we are received and accepted for who we truly are and that is a wonderful feeling. While meeting with friends one day, one of them shared that since he is handicapped now and uses a walker all the time, others respond to his weakness and show many ways of caring for him. When he goes to church to lead a class, others show compassion and open the door for him, set him up with a podium for his Bible and notes, give him a microphone, etc. and he feels loved. His handicap is obvious, but some hidden hurts we also have may paralyze us until we are willing to reveal those deep hidden things and receive help. The author Cusick himself had a very painful childhood with sexual abuse by his uncle and others, had addictions, was depressed, and lacked security and love. Quite a switch to the present where he speaks to thousands of people, helping them to become known, valued and healed. He learned to share his shame with the Lord and others, risking vulnerability to receive healing and wholeness.
Intimacy in relationship to others is not based on telling others good things about ourselves, but on what is true and real. Somehow intimacy happens as we know others welcome all of us, even those parts of us that we’d rather hide. The bottom line is that God sees us in our stink, as Al often says, He accepts us where we are, and wants to love us and restore us. Paul said in II Cor. 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.” The Message says we get a fresh start, and created new.
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