People are often uncomfortable responding to wounds they observe in others. I’ve found that physical wounds often generate compassion more quickly than emotional wounds.

When I visited Hager Park Church recently, I had a large bandage on my neck. Sherwin Weener, Tom Kragt and David Lantz all immediately asked what had happened. I explained that I’d had a benign tumor removed. The only complication was that the blood that was supposed to drain after the surgery had created a huge clot on the side of my face and neck and created enormous pressure against my inner and outer ear. Nothing the surgeon had done to get the blood to drain had worked, so I’d had to wait for my body to absorb the clot. I’m a fortunate man.

It’s been interesting for me to watch people respond to the lump on my neck. Whether or not they spoke, I could feel their compassion and concern. Often during ministry, when I’d experienced deep emotional wounding, it was hard for others to acknowledge my pain. When I did talk about it, it was difficult for people to know what to say or do.

I had breakfast recently with Greg Bauer, one of the most positive, joyful, and engaging people I’ve ever met. His book, The Breathing Blanket: How Attitude and Listening Prevail, is his story and is available through his website: www.listenone.com.

As the survivor of a near fatal drunk-driver crash at the age of two, Greg has overcome life-long physical challenges and learned that everyone has the potential to create accomplishments from crisis.

Greg’s physical pain was intolerable, but he chose to pursue his dreams, hopes, and aspirations. In spite of monumental roadblocks, his abundant positive attitude helped him rise above his circumstances and do what others thought to be impossible. Unlike many of us, Greg refused to avert his eyes from pain but chose, instead, to look it directly in the face and confront it.

I invest my life with pastors and their families who have been deeply hurt. God has given me the compassion to come alongside them in the midst of suffering and to gently encourage them to develop an “I can do it” attitude like Greg.

Through the years, Greg has forgiven the drunk driver who robbed him of his physical health. Pastors and wounded church members need to walk similar paths of forgiveness and move forward to find the peace, joy, and purpose that God desires for each of us.

Continuing to learn the art of forgiveness from the Master,
John W. Smith


Submitted by
John Smith on 11.09.06