Loves Embrace

Imagine a hospital that only offered its services to those with injuries that were diagnosed as “legitimate”. Self-inflicted wounds or any harm suffered as a result of bad decisions would disqualify these individuals from treatment.

Instead of addressing their ailments, each prospective patient would be subject to advice that looked and felt like a scolding. These supposed words of wisdom rarely every achieved their intended purpose of providing clarity or healing. In fact, the injured often times left the facility with wounds that did not exist prior to seeking help.

Sound familiar? Most of us have been on both sides of this exchange…

The emotional damage that we experience typically comes from one of two sources. We’ve either made the decision to remain on a path that we at least subconsciously understand will result in pain; or, we are subject to circumstance outside of our power.

Harm done within, or outside of our power, is still harm done. Which is why regardless of the source of our wounds, our need for empathy and a love embrace is mutual.

So why is it that our initial treatment of another looks nothing like this?

We recognize that there is a need, but so much emphasis is placed on the lesson that we’re convinced they need to take away from this experience. Our intent is to help retrace steps so that unnecessary hurt can be avoided in the future. Yet, more harm than good is done as we show them that we’re not willing to take the time and effort necessary to love them to the point of healing.

2 Corinthians 3:5-6 reads, “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life”.

As we stop attempting to kill what is already dead, then the Spirits ability to give life will become real to us. No longer will we act as a hospital that diagnoses the pain and suffering of others as illegitimate. People will walk through the doors of the emergency room that we call the Church, and list every single infirmity knowing that their need for a love embrace will be met entirely!

Jeremiah Wallace