Showing My Stripes

And with his stripes we are healed.
-Isaiah 53:5

What is it about this time of year that puts my wounds in full view?

The other day I was talking to an acquaintance, and I wondered if she could see the holes in my self-esteem. I felt like my brokenness was seeping out through every word and gesture.

Could she see my loneliness amidst a crowd of friends?

I’m betting the baristas at the coffee shop could see my wounds, too, considering I ordered twice my usual amount of snacks last week.

Who can see my stripes? I think we all have them, but generally most of us keep them hidden.

For me, seeing another’s brokenness can be scary. Sometimes that gaping hole is so big that I’m afraid I’ll fall in.

And sometimes seeing that brokenness is beautiful. I can find battle scars on the faces of friends and see that beauty has been wrought. They have been in the trenches, and they remember how it feels.

Do I hide my scars in the quest to be admired and accepted, or do I wear them — if not proudly, then as a quiet acknowledgement that life is hard for all of us?

Yes, my wounds may be startling to see, but here’s what makes them safe — I don’t expect you to heal them. I may over-share a bit; I may give you a too-honest answer if you ask how I am. But when it comes to fixing things, you’re off the hook.

And I won’t try to fix you, either.

And perhaps when those scars re-emerge at this time of year, it’s a reminder of why we celebrate. The healing already is accomplished, for the Savior has come, leaving us to feast together as we celebrate His birth.