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Simple question. You come across the tiger in the picture above. Obviously wounded. What would you do? Would you approach him? No? Why not? He’s wounded badly. He’s in a weakened state. And yet, he’s as wild, dangerous and deadly as he will ever be. And this much is obvious to you.

That’s the truth about being wounded.

We have grown to see wounds as black marks. As weakness. As not being worthy, or simply just not being OK. But in reality, what you see in nature, is that wounded animals don’t act weak and helpless. They are desperate and dangerous. Wild eyed, focused and clawing for life. They are more powerful than when healthy. More intimidating. More fierce.

I have wounds. So do you. And for most of my life, they  have made me feel weak and less than. And like most Christians, I’ve gotten very good at suppressing them, at masking them, at insulating myself. Medicating myself. Calling upon idols and endless distractions. Comforts of everyday life. Numbing myself. After all, I couldn’t possibly embrace those wounds and speak through them. Become desperate and dangerous with my faith. Could I?

I was reading a passage tonight from Jeremiah 37:10. It says, “For though you had defeated the whole army of the Chaldeans who fight against you, and there remained only wounded men among them, they would rise up, every man in his tent, and burn the city with fire.”

I’m not a Bible scholar. So, to be honest, I can’t perfectly provide the context of this verse and the historical setting that surrounded it. But set all that aside and just read the passage. Look at the word “only” being used in italics for emphasis. A group of “only” wounded men, predicted to possess the power to burn an entire city with fire. Desperate and dangerous.

I haven’t written on this blog in over a year. Shameful. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t been wrestling with lots of things. The fact of the matter, though, is I’ve been wounded. And instead of leaning into that, using it, fueling the desperation in a positive way, I’ve just medicated. Numbed myself. Compensated instead of challenged. Been a wimp instead of a warrior. Dead instead of dangerous.

I have a rekindled fire. I want to use my brokenness. My wounds. In powerful ways. The first of many being to show other people they are not alone. And that being wounded is not a sign of weakness. It’s a powerful piece of wisdom that can be used in brave, beautiful ways. I keep hearing the words, “You are not alone” rattling around in my head. I think it’s partly for me, and partly for me to say to others. So, I hope to find opportunities to do just that.

BUT, for starters. If you are out there reading this. And you’re either numbed up and feeling nothing, or very vulnerable and raw and feeling a wound that cuts deep. Let me say this. You are not alone. No matter what you have said, thought, felt or done. You are not alone. And neither am I.