I was reaching into my briefcase to find a pen when it happened…a deep paper cut. Man, did it bleed and hurt! Soon, the bleeding stopped and I was able to put away the bloody napkin. However, what I noticed was that for the next several days I kept bumping the tip of my finger against all kinds of things. My keys in my pocket picked the injury point and caused the bleeding to begin again. Picking up a book caused the pages to rub against the sore place and the pain was immediately intense. Soon, I began to anticipate that the finger was probably already healed up only to have something bump and the pain returned sharply. How many things do you touch in a day with the tip of your finger?
I have some other sore spots that I thought were healed. Do you? There was that guy who hurt me with his words and I thought I had worked through it but then I saw him the other day and my sore point got a quick but painful jab and I realized I was not healed there yet. Then there was the deep regret over a misspoken word that caused another pain and though I apologized and was verbally forgiven, I found myself pricked and pained at the thought of what I said, albeit not intentionally.
The ”old sores don’t heal as quickly as they used to” is the way old-timers describe it. It is truer than we might admit. As leaders we must be aware of our vulnerabilities and work to ensure they don’t become hindrances to our effectiveness.
The tenderness of my fingertip serves to remind me that I must be more careful next time. Danger lurks in unexpected places and I must be sensitive to its potential without being intimidated from leading courageously.
How are you doing with your secret sore spots?
3 responses so far ↓
1 Darrell Buttram, Jr // Apr 10, 2008 at 2:34 am
Personally the only sore spots on the tips of my fingers I am willing to admit to having are wrapped up in so much gause I can’t find my hand. While I intend for that to be funny, there is probably more truth to it than I’m willing to admit.
If “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” then why does remembering those pains always make one feel weaker?
Thanks for the word.
Darrell B
2 billisaacs // Apr 10, 2008 at 2:41 am
If we could remember pain without being limited by its imagery, we would learn more from our struggles. I find that my pain can sometimes make me “skittish” to risk more and to go forward…like the dog whose tail has been stepped on repeatedly.
3 Judy Isaacs // May 16, 2008 at 12:40 am
I have always felt that my sore spots cause me to pray more while I am waiting for healing.
Later when a twinge of pain hits I am reminded of God’s healing power. Many times I am reminded of a sore spot and I sense
that God is either reminding me to walk carefully to avoid that situation again or reminding me that He was faithful to me in that situation.
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