Nail Holes....

We've been talking again at karate about nail holes.

The nail hole story illustrates beautifully the power of words and their lingering effects. The word, when spoken leaves a mark, as the nail does after it's pounded into the wood. Even sincere apologies, which may have the power to remove the nail from the wood still leave a mark - a permanent indentation where they landed.

Driving home, I began thinking of the nails that have been sent my direction. Yes, I'm sure I have fired some off myself, and this illustration has renewed my resound to use my words wisely, but this night I was thinking of those coming toward me.

Some have been single shots, others have felt like they were being fired repeatedly from multi-loaded nail guns. Others feel like they have been pounded again and again, over and over, and have been deeply embedded

I wonder what my heart really looks like from this perspective. I am sure there are marks in various stages of healing. Some, I am sure have healed over pretty nicely, and others have left some lingering scars. I wonder how many nails remain, and how many are there that I haven't fully acknowledged, or have more healing to go that I am not aware of.

I then began to think about the healing process. Our instructor mentioned people trying to fix them with drugs and alcohol (and I would add a list of other addictive behaviors!). I would dare say those are anesthetics rather than cures. The problem is that anesthesia doesn't heal, but actually delays healing, as well as create a whole host of other problems.

Ignoring the wounds doesn't heal them, nor does picking at them repeatedly.

Time helps. Acknowledging their existence helps, and for me, some tears help.

But, I really don't think that *I* can heal my nail holes.....

Fortunately....

God can.