Hurting people hurt people.
In JUMP! last night we talked about how God is a fighter and He made us in His image - fighters too! But, God's enemies are powers, not people. Psalm 75:10 in the Message says, "The fists of the wicked are bloody stumps..." So, the wicked are injured as they fight, but God's fight never bloodies our fists. Punch a "power" not a person and your fists will be just fine! But, haven't we all had to take a punch or two before? It makes me think of something a Pastor once told me when I had been hurt. She said, "Jackie, you have to realize that when we are healthy we nourish others, but from a place of pain 'hurting people hurt people'". I have never forgotten that. "Hurting people hurt people. "Hurting(adjective) people hurt(verb) people." We've all been both the victim and perpetrator of life's pain. Sometimes the person involved is even highly respected, and so on top of the pain we suffer disappointment, shame, fear and confusion. If someone so good can do something so bad, what does it mean??? Here's what it means... victims and perpetrators are, in a way, just the same. Hurting people come in all shapes, colors, sizes and levels of authority. Titles and authority-levels don't make it easier to avoid pain, if anything, they make people more vulnerable. Like a uniformed officer in battle, leaders stick out to the enemy. The truth is, it "rains on the just AND the unjust". So, we've got to kill our nasty pride, hurry up and get healed! One answer to healing is also found in this passage, Psalm 75:10 where it says, "the arms of the righteous are lofty green branches." Fists are for hitting, but arms are for embracing. As a follower of Jesus I am embraced, comforted and protected by God every moment. So, my response should be to do the same for people... ALL the people God has put in my sphere of influence. I think that to be "lofty green branches" is for us to embrace that mighty, rushing wind, to be a shade of relief from life's hot pace, a step up to higher places, a nesting place for weary ones, and a place for some to be fed the most satisfying meal. We can be the vessels that bring God's healing to the most hurting people and stop the vicious pain cycle. What an honor!!! Lord, I pray You would make me into a tree-like woman who reaches others with arms like lofty green branches... whatever You do, don't let me settle for shallow words-in-passing like "Love ya'," or the occasional "Hey Lady, you're awesome," but fertilize me until my tree bears gigantic love fruit. Amen.
