Scars

I wipe the steam from the mirror and hang the bath towel on the hook next to my sink in the bathroom. The same routine I go through nearly every day of my adult life. Looking in the mirror as I brush my teeth, I notice a lot has changed in my reflection during my 61 years of life. The hair on my head is definitely thinner. The remaining hair on my head and beard is a little grayer. That thinning hair on my head has not actually disappeared, it has simply relocated to my nostrils, ears and back. As I pop my contacts lenses in so I can see, I notice the crow's feet wrinkles in the corners of my eyes and then I rub my cheeks to create some blood flow to help the indented skin marks on my face from my CPAP mask strap will fill in so they aren’t too apparent at the early morning men’s meeting I’m about to go to. My focus then travels down to my chest. Right in the middle of my chest is a 9-inch scar. It’s been on my chest since December 19, 2018. I see that scar and smile and give a prayer of thanks every day I see it.

It was on that day 7 years ago that my cardiologist (who is a friend of mine) told me that he couldn’t believe I was still alive. There was blockage discovered during a catheterization procedure showing I had the widow maker scenario in the arteries of my heart. 99% occluded was the term he used. I had no idea what “occluded” meant. He told me I wasn’t going home. He had contacted the surgeon, and he expected I would undergo a triple bypass, if not a quadruple bypass, via open heart surgery to save my life. With a tear in my eye, I asked him what I did wrong. His response to me was, “Nothing, your genetics just suck!” I was then wheeled into a prep room where two large male nurses proceeded to shave me from head to toe. (Note the reference to all the extra hair on my back in the paragraph above . . .yup, it's jungle back there). The surgeon came in about an hour later and spoke with me and Donna about the procedure. Everything was happening so fast I couldn’t process this in my mind at all. The doctor told me this surgery had a 95% success rate. For which I gave him my response, “Oh that’s great doc. So, when I wake up, I have a 95% chance I’ll see my wife and a 5% chance I’ll see Jesus.” He smiled and said he was confident I would see my wife.

The next morning, after a 5-hour surgery, and coming out of anesthesia, I opened my eyes and there was Donna. I was wired for sound, hooked up to every monitor imaginable. Donna smiled at me and said, “The surgery was a success. So, tell me about Romans 8:11.” I asked her why and she cracked up telling me I was quoting this scripture to every doctor, nurse, tech, janitor, social worker, administrator and nutritionist that came into my room the past few hours while I was still a little delirious from the meds. She said I was boldly proclaiming to everyone, “Did you know that if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Christ died and rose from the grave, the same spirit who raised Jesus from the dead now lives inside of you?”

Every morning since that day. I see that scar and think of that experience. I think of the conversations about Jesus in those days in the hospital during my recovery, the true meaning of Christmas, and the Hope who lives underneath that scar that divides my chest. Throughout the next month recovering at home, I shared that story with everyone who visited me or who I encountered in public or at church. All of those conversations ended with my call to them referencing Romans 10:9. “In order for His Spirit to indwell you all you must do is you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead . . . and you will be saved. Do you truly believe this?”

You know the thing about scars? They all tell a story and . . . if there is a scar it means a wound was healed. And if there is a story, there is a gospel testimony for those of us who believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord to be shared so others will know the hope we have in Jesus.

John’s words in Revelation are so powerful. “They triumph over him (Satan) by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony.” - Revelation 12:11.

Peter says,“. . . in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as Holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that in you yet do it with gentleness respect.” - 1 Peter 3:15.

Did you catch that? “. . . to anyone who asks”?! What is there about you that might trigger that question today? What’s the story behind your scar? The story behind that tattoo? The story behind that Jesus shirt or cap you wear each day? What’s the story behind the reason you always seem filled with joy and peace no matter what the situation is in your life, good or bad? What about you will be that trigger for someone, who might be lost in this world, to ask so you can share the reason for your hope? Ask those people to share their story so you can share yours in Christ. Tell them about your scars, so they can understand the scars Jesus endured, and how he crushed Satan as a result.

Please share your stories of healing and turning your wounds into scars with us on our brotherhood support link on our web site. We would love to hear how you were healed and moved forward to help others through your scars and testimonies.