A Letter To My Brother

For 33 and one half years, we have been brothers.  Bonded by the similarities in our DNA that link us to one another.  Although time, space and life has created separation that has seemingly become cavernous to say the least.  The once in separable bond of childhood has been severed by the complacency of two men who have failed to keep kindled the love and bonds of the children they once were.

We have both been hurt by the same things.  Wounded by the divorce of our parents.  Damaged by a childhood that left us without roots or really much of a place to call home.  Seeking the love and affection of the same man, a man we called Dad.  For years I stayed wounded, kept hurting and allowing myself to be hurt.  I carried the heavy baggage of the damages done in my life.  I let the wounds fester and get infected until they nearly poisoned everything good that God would place in my path.  They were wounds that would scab but never heal.  A situation, a comment, a failed promise would re-open that wound and I would have to start healing over again.

Something happened as we became grown up children trying to be men.  At some point I got tired of all the hurting and finally found healing.  On my heart is a scar that I am perfectly okay with.  You see the scar is a reminder that I am completely healed from all the hurt that life gave.  The scar is the simple statement I am no longer broken, but whole.

Right now your wounds are gaping and open and festering.  You are broken inside and out.  Your pain is as deep as you have ever known and probably deeper than you realize or will admit.  But take it from someone who closely resembles you, you can be whole and be healthy and not hurting.

I love the passage where Thomas has to see Jesus' wounds to believe he is who he says he is.  The resurrected Jesus reaches out his hands exposing his wrists where I believe are not open gaping wounds, but simply scars.  Scars that reminds us that he was broken for your and my broken lives, broken hearts and baggage we carry.  In the words of my favorite band: "give me the answers, give me the way out, give me the faith for these hard times."

Never stopped loving you,
Jeff