Recently Brenda and I went to a little chain restaurant for breakfast on a cold and drizzling morning. The parking lot was full. We scurried inside to get out of the rain. Not only was the place packed, but they were also in the middle of a remodel making the scene chaotic.
We stepped up to order when I noticed the scars. They were unmistakably visible. Some looked fresh. The lady taking our order had cut marks on her arm right above the inside of the elbow joint going upwards to the biceps. There were several scars in a straight line one on top of another. I recognized this young lady was cutting herself. The scars screamed out a hidden pain beneath the surface. I did not have long but felt prompted to share a word about Jesus with this young lady.
With a line forming behind us, hurried activity in the kitchen, and people everywhere I started asking God how to do so. I settled on this line, "Have you heard any good news?" She looked puzzled and then responded, "It is raining and I like the rain." I answered, "Let me tell you the best news I know. Jesus Christ loves you so much that He died on a cross so that you could be forgiven of all your sins." She smiled sheepishly and handed us our receipt. Just like that the whole encounter ended.
I keep thinking about those cut marks on her arm. A sadistic way of dealing with the deeper pain inside by inflicting physical pain on her body. I know it sounds strange but it is a coping mechanism for many troubled people. I can't help but wonder what that young lady dealt with on a daily basis. One thing is for certain. She dealt with deep pain in her life.
Brenda did not notice the scars as she focused on the menu and getting the method of payment ready. I am sure most other customers did notice them either. Jesus noticed. I believe He is the one who drew my attention to the scars because He wanted that young lady to hear that He loved her. A message Jesus wants all people with scars to hear.
We are surrounded by scarred people in society. Some are family members. Others are neighbors, coworkers, classmates, friends, and even people sitting in the pews. Some live daily with deep emotional scars. Wounds inflicted on them physically have rooted themselves in the soil of the mind sprouting into the scars of anxiety, fears, anger, depression and confusion. They survived physical, sexual, or psychological abuse but the scars remain. Deep hidden scars.
Jesus has compassion for such people. I wish the same could be said for every church. Messed up people are messy to deal with as they seek to untangle their lives. Many churches do not want to get involved. They want to add to their stats neat nice people who will help fund the budget. Scarred people take longer to minister to before they contribute to ministry or offerings. God forbid that the church become so callused. Scarred people need help and if they can't find it in the church they look for other destructive ways to cope.
May God give us the courage to enter into other people's pain to show them the way out. This is not easy. Sometimes it is three steps forward and two steps backward. Scarred people are ones Jesus loves and died to save. May we as the people of God keep our eyes open and our mouths ready to point hurting people to our healing Savior. He turns victims into victors. He rescues the lost. He redeems the down and out. He saves the scarred. How do I know? I am one of those scarred and flawed people Jesus helped, healed, and rescued. It is my passion to point others wounded and scarred people to the only one who can really make them whole.
