Yesterday Matt and I went to a local farm and we met this sweet dog, Trooper, who had only one eye. Matt’s compassionate heart showed through as he wanted to hang out with this sweet guy.

As Matt pet him, I got down myself to pet Trooper and look at this sweet face. As we pet Trooper, I was reminded of my invisible wound which many days I forget about until it’s time to brush my teeth. Yet I think this week God is reminding me of my wound as the other day I met two people who had lost their legs, one in combat and the other to gun violence. How do I know that?

Because when I see people with visible wounds, or even Trooper, I feel an immediate connection with them, and when appropriate, I ask questions and listen to their stories.

Why?

Because I am not whole physically either. Our stories are different but the thread of connection draws me in as I know I can learn from their story.

The truth is, we are all wounded in some way, but not all our wounds are visible, or physical. Yet if we take time to listen, we can learn from each other’s stories.

Whatever your wounds are, or your story is, I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

When we keep our stories hidden, they can become a dark room in our hearts we never let light into. I pray today may be the day we can pull back the curtain of those rooms in our hearts, and let light in. May we consider sharing our story with someone today, even just with God, to help in our healing. May we trust that if God has this wound as a part our story, that He will use it, in time, maybe even to help someone else going through a similar experience. And may we trust, if we choose to let someone in besides God, that He will place a compassionate soul, like Matt, to be beside us to listen.

And the next time we walk by someone, or an animal, with a visible wound, may we find that common thread between us and meet them with compassion, just as we would like to be met with if our wounds were visible.

With love and hope,

Shawn

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.

- 1 Peter 3:8