“Some people see scars, and it is wounding they remember. To me they are proof of the fact that there is healing.” ― Linda Hogan
The other day at work, I bumped into the open drawer of a metal filing cabinet, causing a three-inch cut on the middle of my thigh. My first thought? This is going to scar.
I’m not sure why I care all that much about a scar on my leg. After all, I’m not a leg model for Vogue magazine. Not to mention my legs are littered with scars from the abuse I often put them through while performing any number of handyman projects.
Eventually I shrugged it off and went about my day.
Later on, while sitting in Colorado’s grueling rush hour traffic, the discomfort of that cut caused my mind to drift to a more metaphorical view about scars, and what they truly represent in life.
Unlike a scraped knee, a burn from an over rack or the three-inch cut on the middle of my thigh, scars of the heart are not easily seen, yet we know they are there.
And much like someone might conceal a physical scar with makeup concealer or oversized clothing, we smile, we laugh, we behave as if our lives are uncomplicated and even perfect – void of the emotional burdens which typically leave long-lasting impacts.
But the scars are still there. And while their imprint may fade over time, it never fully goes away. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t provide our lives with value. Pop-Christian singer Mandisa sums it up pretty well:
They remind me of your faithfulness
And all you brought me through
They teach me that my brokenness
Is something you can use
They show me where I’ve been
And that I’m not there anymore
That’s what scars, that’s what scars are for
Scars of the heart provide us with lifelong lessons. In many cases, the damage from the past has made us stronger and more resilient – better prepared for the future and more cautious in the present. They should never define who you are or limit your ability to love and inspire others all around you.
David Rossi from Criminal Minds says, “Scars show us where we have been, they do not dictate where we are going.”
