Find an Insight that Heals

February 3, 2020

Scripture

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.  (Isaiah 53: 4, 5 NIV)

Find An Insight That Heals

The late Richard Wagamese is a gifted writer of novels and meditative musings that have enriched me. His experience as a First Nations survivor of residential schools and foster homes damaged him deeply. His journey of recovery from addictions, incarcerations and other wounds associated with his experience led him to a gentle expression about life before his untimely death.

The word “faith” as an acronym became one benchmark of his healing. As a younger wounded man, it meant “Find Another Indian to Hassle”. In his posthumously published book One Drum, he said the letters became “Find An Insight That Heals”.

There is something about that progression that warmed my soul one recent morning. We all have our wounded histories, some less obvious than his. Finding faith that heals our wounds and frees us to know we are loved is a common longing expressed in my conversations over these many years.

For me that is the powerful message Jesus offers by his life, death, resurrection and ongoing work among us. He has experienced and bears our wounds to free us to love as we are loved, offer healing as we have been healed and hope as we have received hope.

A Prayer for Today

O God of faithful love, we thank you that you change us from being wounders to healers as we know our wounds have been healed by you. Help us to aspire to grow each day out of fear to faith, from anxiety to hope and from sorrow to joy     .…. For Jesus’ sake