If only perfect people
should write memoirs, the world wouldn’t have any memoirs.
Are you struggling
to feel adequate, or qualified, to write your story? If so, these two powerful
messages are for you.
The first is from
Henri Nouwen:
“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 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 getting involved
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.”
(Henri Nouwen, “Not Breaking the Bruised Reeds,” Bread for the Journey,
March 17 selection)
The second is from
Mother Teresa:
“I have experienced many
human weaknesses, many human frailties, and I still experience them. But we
need to use them. We need to work for Christ with a humble heart, with the
humility of Christ. He comes and uses us to be his love and compassion in the
world in spite of our weaknesses and frailties.” (Mother Teresa, No Greater Love)
“A bruised reed he
will not break,
and a smoldering
wick he will not snuff out.”
(Isaiah 42:3,
Matthew 12:20, NIV)
“He won’t brush aside
the bruised and the hurt. . . .”
(Matthew 12:20, The
Message)
“. . . And a dimly
burning wick He will not extinguish.
(Matthew 12:20,
NASB)
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