Bringing It All Together 8: Stuff Below the Line

The next three posts will be about the stuff below the line. If that doesn't make sense, read yesterday's post on the Human Person Box.

Unfortunately, the black box stuff doesn't surface on its own over time. In fact it can be harder and harder to get to the bottom of something if you've spent decades upon decades denying the existence of the black box.

Black Box Special #1: PAIN

Because we live in a fallen world, even human alive has been impacted. We all have wounds, and most of us live out of a commitment to ignore the pain of our woundedness. If you say you have no wound, then you have likely developed ways to numb yourself to the reality of brokenness around you.

One common example might be the person who says "I grew up in a great family! We were all loving and kind..." When asked what was hard about growing up in their family, they respond "Nothing. It was great!"

The problem with this is NOT that they say they grew up in a great family. Many kids have great parents! But all goodness with no brokenness is not the reality of ANY family or individual. You and I are sinners. Your parents were sinners. Their parents, parents, parents, were sinners. And thus, even as many parents love their children in very good ways, their sin (my sin) WILL have an impact. By grace, the impact is not insurmountable. But ironically, it becomes so, when you cannot name it.

The biggest inhibitor of change, says Dan Allender, is not looking at the wound. And we have really good reasons that we do this.

It hurts.

Just like my 6 year old would rather run away and let a cut fester than have me clean it out, you and I are committed to burying pain.

Living with freedom and joy cannot happen without honesty. You cannot be free from wounds you have not grieved. You cannot grieve what you cannot face. And you cannot face what you have not named.

If you are sitting there wondering "What are you talking about?" or "I know there's stuff in there, but I haven't the foggest how to go there," I'd love to dialogue more. Send me a comment or an email!