Midweek Message, April 20, 2016

Once again, one of my favorite theologians, Henri Nouwen, has a powerful thought I want to share with you on this, my
60th birthday: Some of us tend to do away with things that are slightly damaged. Instead of repairing them we say: “Well, I don’t have time to fix it, I might as well throw it in the garbage can and buy a new one.” Often we also treat people this way. We say: “Well, he has a problem with drinking; well, she is quite depressed; well, they have mismanaged their business…we’d better not take the risk of working with them.” When we dismiss people out of hand because of their apparent woundedness, we stunt their lives by ignoring their gifts, which are often buried in their wounds. We all are bruised reeds, whether our bruises are visible or not. The compassionate life is the life in which we believe that strength is hidden in weakness and that true community is a fellowship of the weak.

I am thankful for the reminder that all of us are bruised reeds AND that all of us, even in our bruised and sometimes battered state, have tremendous gifts to share for building our community of faith.

Have a blessed week!

Cliff

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