Wound Power

Brennan Manning in his little book The Rabbi’s Heartbeat speaks of Thornton Wilder’s play, "The Angel That Troubled the Waters." It is based on John 5. The setting is the Pool of Bethesda where the angel of the Lord heals people when the water is stirred. An ailing physician pleads for help but the angel insists that this healing is not for him. The angel says, "Without your wounds where would your power be?" Manning goes on to say, "In Love’s service only wounded soldiers can serve."
Wounds are powerful aren’t they? This power can be negative or it can be positive. The healing touch of the Father in our wounded places transforms pain into power. It changes shame to assurance and moves the wounded from despair to praise. The interesting thing about wounds is that we all have them but most of us try to keep them hidden. It is comforting to know the Lord specializes in the broken. (Swiped from my pastor Kent Conrad's prayer email.)