Walking Wounded

Surrounding Our Subdivision Is a Beautiful 18-Hole Golf Course. When my son was 13, he and a friend were hitting golf balls at the driving range. Jon was scrutinizing the technique of his friend, who was consistently hitting the ball farther than he was. In this attempt to observe, Jon got too close. When his friend over followed through on the swing, the club came down clipping Jon’s head directly behind his left ear. He says that he felt great pain and actually did see stars.

After resting for a moment the boys walked to our house which was about four blocks from the driving range. At first everything appeared to be normal. Then my mother noticed that Jon’s words were not making sense. Because my husband and I were both working at our part-time jobs, the boys called the friend’s father who determined that a visit to the emergency room was in order. Both an ambulance and my brother were immediately called as they began the attempt to reach us. (Neither of us worked near a phone.)

After being seen by the emergency room doctor, Jon was sent by Flight for Life to a Children’s Hospital about one hour’s drive away in Milwaukee. By the time we were located and arrived at Children’s Hospital, Jon had been seen and evaluated. The doctors informed us that there was a significant dent in Jon’s skull. This was a serious condition that would require attention. The good news was that the lining which separates the brain from the skull had not been affected. Although there had been some swelling of the brain from the trauma, they expected no permanent effect to the brain.

A few days later, when the swelling had reduced, Jon underwent a surgery. They literally cut out a circular piece, flipped it over and replaced it in the skull. Because Jon was still growing, this injury had posed the potential for damage to the brain if not taking care of. After a short time of recovery, Jon was totally back to normal with only a scar to remind us of the incident. And because the scar is beneath the hair, it is only visible if Jon chooses to cut his hair extremely short.

Although the injury that Jon received was extremely serious, he had walked home appearing fairly normal. Even his strange behavior was initially considered to be silliness. My mother had been unsure as to whether medical attention was necessary. Even when his friend’s father arrived, there was no indication of how serious the underlying injury actually was.

There are many people walking around in a world that have hidden injuries to their soul and spirit. Many, like my son, appear to be doing okay but have experienced something significantly serious that is not readily apparent. Although they seem fine, fear or pain may actually be there constant companion. Mildly inappropriate behavior can easily be misinterpreted by those around them. A well-crafted façade may come across as arrogance, when nothing is farther from the truth. It will take someone looking beneath the surface to find the underlying soul condition.

 Of the Pharisees Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you are like tombs that have been whitewashed, which look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of dead men's bones and everything impure.” (Matthew 23:27 AMP) He was quite angry with the phoniness of the Pharisees. They looked so good on the outside but harbored sin within. A similar principle may be true of wounded people. The polished exterior actually contains the death of pain and past wrongs. Just because someone looks good we cannot assume they are actually doing well.

 Jesus always looked at the individual. This is quite readily seen with the Samaritan woman at the well. (See John 4) Here Jesus was gentle and saw her with the eyes of compassion. We also must view others in this manner and not judge their behavior at face value. “Be honest in your judgment and do not decide at a glance (superficially and by appearances); but judge fairly and righteously.” (John 7:24 AMP) The apostle James reprimanded early Christians for making assumptions about people based on their clothing. “Are you not discriminating among your own and becoming critics and judges with wrong motives?” (James 2:4 AMP) Rich or poor, happy or sad, we all need to experience the love of God.

Jesus sought out the hurting. “The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity],” (Luke 4:18 AMP) His perfect love desires to heal the inner wounds both in us and all those we encounter. He stated, “Those who are strong and well have no need of a physician, but those who are weak and sick; I came not to call the righteous ones to repentance, but sinners (the erring ones and all those not free from sin).” (Mark 2:17 AMP)

As the trained medical staff brought healing to my son’s skull, the great physician, Jesus can bring healing to the inner wounds of the soul. He came to fulfill the words of the prophet Isaiah. “To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion—to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit—that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:3 AMP)

Look at everyone you meet with eyes of compassion. Do not assume that everything is okay, but rather allow the Holy Spirit to show you who needs God’s healing touch.