A Bruised Rib and Slowing Down

“Wounding and healing are not opposites. They’re part of the same thing. It is our wounds that enable us to be compassionate with the wounds of others. It is our limitations that make us kind to the limitations of other people. It is our loneliness that helps us to find other people or to even know they’re alone with an illness. I think I have served people perfectly with parts of myself I used to be ashamed of.” ― Rachel Naomi Remen

I turned around hurriedly to exit the deck on a cruise ship and abruptly collided with a ship pole. The pole won the contest I had unwillingly entered, soundly, as I bounced off it! For over a week, I did not know if I had broken a rib, bruised it, or possibly damaged my spleen. My world slowed down to a crawl due to the pain. So much rest. So much tv. So much reading. So much sleeping. Some tears. Forced rest.

Here is a big lesson I learned during this time of unexpected rest:

Deep wounds sometimes take longer than we expect to heal.

In our fast paced culture, I often expect instantaneous results. I realized after a couple of days into being internally injured that I had to let this injury heal over the course of time. The ribs did not heal on my timeline. Even though no one could outwardly see the pain I was in, this did not diminish the severity of the wound and the time needed for me to heal.

I believe this applies to emotional wounds and spiritual wounds as well. Even though these wounds cannot be seen visibly, they need care and attention and time to heal just as much as visible, physical wounds. There are things I can do to help speed up the healing process, a bit, but time is an important component that is a part of the process.

One of my all time favorite songs is called, "Time Takes its Toll on Us" by Bebo Norman. These lyrics from the song speak to how I often feel in the wounding/healing processes of my life:

Have I become a soul so numb

All too familiar

Words of gold have all grown cold

Over and over

I need to see you in the sunrise

Whether it is a bruised rib or a bruised heart, a part of the healing process is knowing time is needed. Other parts of the process are remembering we are not alone, experiencing God's new mercies every day, and trusting He is present in the process.

Questions for Reflection:

1. What wounds do you have (visible or invisible) that need more time than you are affording them to fully heal? What can you eliminate to give yourself the time needed?

2. What are some "seeing God in the sunrise" moments in your life that are helping you heal?