A Hero’s Scar – cm#2of10

I was so brave. I saved his life. I have the scar to prove it. Right out of a made for TV special – but not really.

Over the next several posts (or so) I will share ten childhood memories
and lessons I glean for today. 

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I was so brave. I saved his life. I have the scar to prove it. Right out of a made for TV special – but not really.

Back to NOVA – Northern Virginia. I had my little childhood posse. We hung out and played all over the neighborhood. In the neighborhood was a gas house – to be honest I am not sure what it really was. But it was a a small shed that was behind the main houses on our little road of Nob Hill. We acquired a piece of plywood. Probably stole it from a local construction site – but that guilt is in another memory. We acquired a piece of plywood and we placed it against the gas house so we could climb up in the tiny roof of the shed.

It was cool. You could see for miles (well, not really, but could see for a 1/4 mile or so.) Therefore, we would climb on it and be on the top of the world. we would run up the plywood, and then run down it again. Fun city.

And one day, a young 3 or 4 year old was playing with us. He tried to climb up the piece of wood, the bridge to the mighty heights. And then … he got stuck. Not physically, but mentally. He was afraid. Afraid to climb higher. Afraid to turn around and possibly fall the death defying distance (about 4 feet).

I took the role of hero. I was on the apex, so I determined to slide down the wooden drawbridge and deliver the trapped soul. And I did. Oh what solid acts of bravado. But this story has a plot twist.

As I slid down the piece of wood, I picked up a splinter. Not just any splinter, a footlong piece of wood that stuck out of my … heinie. Yep, my butt had been pierced.

I grabbed the wooden splinter and yanked. No pain. No fear. No tears. … No wisdom. I got it out – well, most of it. It’s not like that was not embarrassing enough. The story continues.

Later at home, the cheek hurt. I had to let my mother take a look. Could the embarrassment get any worse – just wait. I explained the ordeal and the punishment for the actions of getting on the roof would wait for later. Now, she tried to remedy the immediate pain. But she couldn’t. I had to go to the doctor. More embarrassment.

They laid me out on one of those inspection beds, face down. My jeans and drawers were dropped and a cover was placed over my … my hind parts … with a hole in it just over the injury. Oh the embarrassment as the nurse worked on my cheeky chunk of wood.

They proceeded to remove the fibers. Then they stitched me up. Yep, I got some bottom sutures. I don’t show the scar, actually I can’t even see it due to the placement – but it is there.

Heroes come in many forms – and this 10 year old was now a hero. With the scar to prove it. Scars show healing. Scars show there was something that took place.

In our lives, we go though many experiences that often leave scars. These scars show we went though an experience that can hurt, damage, or even wound. But the scars show healing has taken place.

We often try to hide scars (like my mark on my buttock) but the scar is there.

We can use scars in our lives to show healing is real – healing does happen – healing is possible, even in the biggest injuries. We can use scars in our lives to strengthen ourselves in future times of struggle. And, We can use scars to encourage others that are going through struggles. Scars are God’s way of showing healing.

So the lesson for 2023 – don’t be afraid or ashamed of the scars – use them as reminders of God’s healing.

After all, I am the hero of this story.