I just finished reading "Chasing Francis" by Ian Morgan Cron as an assignment for my upcoming participation in Re:create and discussion with the author. I was struck by a quote from one of the characters in the story regarding ministry. Thomas, a friar shares with a young pastor who is on a pilgrimage:
"Everywhere I go, I meet people, old and young, from all over the world, and they tell me about their lives, their relationships, broken families, their addictions, shame, guilt, failures. You'll never be able to speak into their souls unless you speak the truth about your own wounds. You need to tell them what our Lord has come to mean to you in the midst of your disappointments and losses. All ministry begins at the ragged edges of our own pain."
Strangely enough we seem to believe the exact opposite of this - that ministry begins with our knowledge, our talents, abilities, and our strengths. It's a radical idea to think that our truest ministry begins with our woundedness, our broken places, our pain - and perhaps most importantly of all - our ability to recognize and admit the truth about our lives and how God has healed us.
These things are what we most long to cover up, to hide from others and even from ourselves. But we minister most deeply out of our experiences and not what we just know in our head. People are touched by who we ARE in relationship with Christ and how we have lived out a true knowing of God as we have invited Him into our pain and brokenness. To acknowledge the truth about ourselves is to acknowledge truth about God.
"Ministry begins at the ragged edges of our own pain".....
If this is true, then what ministry are you prepared for?
What are the "ragged edges" of your pain?
Jan - this was a powerful post for me. I can really relate, but I've never had words for it before - that my ministry began, truly, at the ragged edges of my own pain. Wow.
I'm going to B&N TONIGHT and find this book. Thanks so much...
Posted by: beth | January 23, 2009 at 02:41 PM