Scar Tissue

Working for a Christian company has certain benefits. We get time off around Easter. You can openly pray and even say something like “I’m praying for you” out loud. And there’s no “girl o’ the month” calendar thumb tacked over the copier. 

Another benefit is that we have a twice-monthly Chapel program. We sing hymns and there’s a speaker. Oftentimes, the speaker is a visiting pastor. Yesterday at chapel, the speaker was former pastor Mark Croston. He was at a church in Virginia until he came to LifeWay as our national director of black church partnerships. 

His message was one that struck a chord with me as it referenced some Scripture that I’ve always found intriguing. Reading from John 20, following Jesus’ resurrection when he presents himself to Mary and the Disicples, Mr. Croston described how Jesus proved to those few there with him his identity by showing them his scars. To doubtful Thomas, He said, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 

The rest of his message was it’s OK if we lowly humans have scars as Jesus did, too. I always found it curious that Jesus still had these marks because everything we hear and know of the promise of Heaven is that we’re restored, we’re whole, we’re well again. But Mr. Croston filled in a gap for me. He pointed out the difference between a wound (a place not healed) and a scar (one that is). Naturally, this got me thinking about my own scars, each a souvenir of a life well-lived.

"Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."  --John 20:29