Burnt

Ever been burnt? I have many times. I used to be a tom-boy. I still am, on the inside, It's just covered by a more by a feminine exterior these days.  I've managed to burn myself many times in my life. A blister here, a blister there. I don't recommend packing up your camp stove just after you used it. I've got a scar on my hand from another camp stove encounter. I've always had awesome cooking skills.

Superficial burns hurt for a while, but in time they heal. Worst case scenario you get left with a scar.

"Since the body cannot re-create healthy skin or tissue, it puts together new fibres that are not as functional as the original tissue, but that serve as a protective, useful barrier. When this barrier is completely healed, it is known as a scar."1

Scars occur where an: 

"injury, cut, surgery or disease has taken place, and then healed. Thicker than the surrounding tissue, scar tissue is paler and denser because it has a limited blood supply; although it takes the place of damaged or destroyed tissue, it is limited in function, including movement, circulation, and sensation."1

Scars have some benefits, they fill the hole, they protect you from further damage, but scars also have negatives, they may leave us feeling less beautiful, less valuable, or not being able to feel at all where once we could.

For those that don't know, I am a pastors kid.  I was burnt by the church. Actually let me rephrase, I was burnt by some of the members of a church. The "church" voted and "fired" my dad. Without taking into consideration the feelings of my dad or how it would affect the rest of my family. Us kids were half way through the school year. Mum was happy at her job.

He came home from the board meeting and told us that we were moving and that the church didn't want him to be their pastor any more. I was 14, My sister 12 and my brother 9. I had never seen my dad cry before and I haven't since. It broke my heart.

The church gave us farewell gifts and smiled nicely, tried to give us good-bye hugs and air kisses. All I wanted to do was give them the finger. The façade had been shattered for me. I've always hated fake. And now that was how I saw the church. I never wanted to see them again. I didn't want to go back.

Question: What do you do when you get burnt?

Everyone should know the answer to this. If you don't, you need to invest in a first aid book or take a course ASAP.

Answer: You wash it under cold water for as long as you possibly can.

Mum and Dad were absolutely amazing through it all. Even though they felt just like we did. They helped us through it, reminded us that people are imperfect and we are not Christians because of what Christians do, but because of what Jesus did for us. They told us never to let anyone ever take our salvation from us, and to trust that God had a plan and could turn our sorrows into joy. They asked us to forgive the people and to remain close to God. And not to allow ourselves to become bitter or hate them, as that would only hurt us and our relationship with God. It was hard, but Mum and Dad's example helped us through.

We were relocated to a city a few hours away and started a new school and a new church. Where we were loved, the people were real. You could feel God's love through the church. There we experienced healing. They respected Dad, and treasured mum. We made great friends at our new school and grew into better and stronger people.

God brought good from the bad.

Today I discovered a song. I saw one line of the lyrics on facebook and looked up the song. I loved it immediately. But I didn't know why. I could kind of understand the words, but didn't really get what the song was about... But I've listened to it literally all day. Alternating between the acoustic and normal version.

Have a Listen:




Tonight as I was going for a walk at sunset, I looked up the lyrics and was in awe. I started crying.

"Daddy was a preacher
She was his wife
Just tryin' to make the world a little better
You know, shine a light 

People started talking
Just to hear their own voice
Those people tried to accuse my father
Said he made the wrong choice

Though it might be painful
You know that time will always tell
Those people have long since gone
My father never failed

Even when the rain falls
Even when the flood starts rising
Even when the storm comes
I am washed by the water

Even when the Earth crumbles under my feet
Even when the ones I love turn around and crucify me
I won't never ever let you down
I won't fall
I won't fall
I won't fall as long as you're around me
 
Even when the rain falls
Even when the flood starts rising
Even when the storm comes
I am washed by the water"

Yes, It was painful and yes, I am left with some minor scars. But I can look at them, and not focus on the pain, but on the God who brought us through. Good was brought from the bad. My family was brought closer to each other and remains closer than most. And we were brought closer to God. Even though the tears fell, and life felt like a storm. God was there for me and I know that he will be in my future storms too.

I am washed by the water.

1) http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-scar-tissue.htm