bierkergaard

I watched a fascinating documentary this morning titled "Of Two Minds." It is available as an instant download on Netflix. It is the personal stories of several individuals, and their loved ones, on the highs and lows of being Bipolar. It was heart-wrenching with some humorous pathos and a good deal of narcissism. One of my theories is that at least some people have mental health disorders because they are essentially self-focused. Much of this arises out of prior trauma that was and is real and damaging. Pain is a very ego-centering and cementing experience. Yet, this pain now creates a internally-driven compulsion to think of oneself a lot--and that can make anyone crazy. I found myself admiring the people in the documentary a great deal but also tiring of their lament. C.S. Lewis said it well, "Christianity does not call us to think less of ourselves, but to think of ourselves less." I know that when I dwell on myself, nothing good comes from it. It i...

Henri Nouwen's book The Wounded Healer popularized Jung's archetype drawn from mythology. Nouwen writes, “The man who articulate the movements of his inner life, who can give names to his varied experiences, need no longer be a victim of himself, but is able slowly and consistently to remove the obstacles that prevent the spirit from entering. He is able to create space for Him who heart is greater than his, whose eyes see more than his, and whose hands can heal more than his.” The He is Jesus. Not Dr. Oz. In lay terms, our own wounds, properly healed, provide a path to help illuminate and create room for the healing of others' wounds.Ultimately, as our wounds are given to Jesus, the wounded healer Himself (by whose stripes we are healed), ministry arises. We all hurt, we all have been wounded, we carry scars both visible and invisible. God with us is also God wounded with us and for us. Over a month ago, on my thrice weekly redemption run to the river and back, I h...