As I sit in my bathroom, balling my eyes out, dreading Easter dinner with my family today, I am reminded that a man named Jesus. He sees my damaged nervous system, trauma, and self hatred, and says, “ There you are friend, I was looking for you.
This Easter season, a lot of pain, bitterness, and anger have lived with me. I see others rejoicing and I just feel stuck in my trauma.
But Nadia you have reminded me that there is a man named Jesus, a wonderful guy who sees me and says oh there you are, and invites me to his table.
In my life of 80+ yrs of listening to and reading about the resurrection, no one has ever talked about this essential aspect of Jesus' being seen by the disciples. Thank you from my deepest heart for making Jesus' resurrection more real. ♥️
As a surviving Calvinist and former member of Exclusive Country Club of the Self-Sanctified and Self-Righteous “Elect” at the Fundagelical True American™, True Blue™, True “Q”™, True Christian™ Church, I totally agree with you.
This is the message that needs to be offered all the time. You will know us by and through our scars -- those that are visible and those we don't "share" but should. Mine are on full display.Thank you Nadia for the witness of your scars.
Happy Easter Nadia! Thank you for preaching the real Good News from your heart and soul.
Whenever I see a depiction of a Resurrected Jesus I look for the wounds. They are what freed me from the shame of my own woundedness. Being set free into the realization that we are one with one another and all of creation.
My mother left through the basement window to be with the next door neighbour who was 17 years her senior. It was a huge scandal. Everywhere I went I was pointed at and whispered about behind hand covered mouths. The ‘church ladies’ were THE absolute worst. It took the better part of 4 decades to even understand the shame I felt all the time. I completely understand folks from minorities that are excited to see someone like them on tv or in a movie role. I have been searching all my life for someone who looks like me on the inside. I can’t believe that today you unlocked that for me. Of course, Jesus sees my internal scars! He absolutely does doesn’t he? This is THE greatest day of my life NBW! Thank you for showing me Jesus this way.
That inherited shame is just as powerful as our own. Yes, the religious righteous love to hide behind a story like our mothers'. I've always felt like I had to heal at least two peoples' wounds; mine and my mothers. Nadia's message here is very freeing.
YES. My grandparents hurt my mother so, and then my father's parents hurt her too (and she hurt me because she didn't know anything else). She used to threaten me with church - "I'll take you there and they'll judge you and condemn you!" because that was all she knew, or had been told, about religion and what some now-dead person called "God." When I hit 40 I decided I was going to see Christianity for myself, make up my own mind. When I heard about being beloved of God, made in God's image, forgiven, loved, given grace, that was the first I'd ever heard of those things. What if our wounded, tormented parents had gotten the messages about love, forgiveness, grace too? What more could have been?
I was thinking this morn how Jesus felt the father forsook him for a second (or longer) on the cross--and he knew the plan!!! That gives me such hope!
And I love where you point out that the fear wasn’t (isn’t) that Jesus is like God, but that God is like Jesus! Heck. Ya. Jesus truly is the coolest, bestest, lovingest--all the good. None of the bad! And therefore, so is the Father. And therefore--wow!
Thank you for your vulnerability to share your scars and story. My mother left me when I was fifteen years old. I was "conned" into believing that she was still a good mother, a normal mother. Part of me wanted to believe she still loved me the way a mother really should. It wasn't until I was in my mid twenties and had a son that I started realizing she had mental issues that prevented her from connecting with me in a healthy way. I eventually had to end the relationship with her. She is passed now. Although I've moved on and healed from this in some ways, the scars will always be there. Mother's day still stings a little and I do feel the loss the holiday carries with it. But on the flip side, when I see good mothers, like my wife and those who really have the capacity to love their children it brings a sweet warmth inside my heart.
You talk about the scars both on the inside and outside. It reminded of something I heard Katherine Wolf say who has a ministry towards the disabled, she being disabled herself. She said, "we all have wheelchairs, whether physical or otherwise that take a toll on our minds." As a I thought about it, those wheelchairs are a limitation, but they can assist us too. I mean thats the purpose of a wheelchair? So this thing that I see as a character flaw inside myself, be it my own anxiety or depression, or whatever, can actually help me in some ways to become more whole or more congruent? Maybe. IDK. I guess, if anything it puts me in touch with my own humanness and that helps me to relate to others, and to be less judgmental. It's hard for me to accept my own faults (sins) that I struggle with but Jesus loves me for who I am, both the good and bad parts. And if I can accept those parts of myself a little bit more each day, perhaps I can find some peace in this crazy world I live in.
I listened to your eulogy for Rachel for the umpteenth time because you introduced me to a Mary Magdalene I had never met before and thus to an Easter morn like no other. I have thanked you before and now will thank you once more.
It brought back a memory of a conversation I had with a priest many years ago.
We talked about the Inner Stigmata; the wounds that Jesus sustained emotionally and spiritually. And that he told me that I had an opportunity to consider it a blessing to share in some of that with Jesus. (I was experiencing my first of many episodes of what the now call schizoaffective disorder)
It helped create a deep well of connection for me, that I have drawn from for over 50 years.
I am blessed that God can use anything to reach me.
Thank you again for your constant transparency and giving of yourself.
You talk about scars and messiness in such a beautiful way. Life is dense and almost impossible to wade through with feet we have ourselves encased in lumps of concrete. Your writing gift is crystal clear and twinkles with God's truth. Thank you x
As I sit in my bathroom, balling my eyes out, dreading Easter dinner with my family today, I am reminded that a man named Jesus. He sees my damaged nervous system, trauma, and self hatred, and says, “ There you are friend, I was looking for you.
This Easter season, a lot of pain, bitterness, and anger have lived with me. I see others rejoicing and I just feel stuck in my trauma.
But Nadia you have reminded me that there is a man named Jesus, a wonderful guy who sees me and says oh there you are, and invites me to his table.
Thank you Nadia for this reminder. 💛
In my life of 80+ yrs of listening to and reading about the resurrection, no one has ever talked about this essential aspect of Jesus' being seen by the disciples. Thank you from my deepest heart for making Jesus' resurrection more real. ♥️
I just plain old love you. As a surviving catholic I wish I was taught more like this. 💜
As a surviving Calvinist and former member of Exclusive Country Club of the Self-Sanctified and Self-Righteous “Elect” at the Fundagelical True American™, True Blue™, True “Q”™, True Christian™ Church, I totally agree with you.
Mark, there are some scars that feel familiar!!!
Yes, I ve been there as well 😔
As a surviving evangelical, I feel the same!
Seems like there are a lot of us out there. I'm a recovering legalist who just wants to know Jesus, but my history seems to trip me up soooo much.
Dear Nadia, your words touched me in my deepest place of heart.
Jesus showing His scars AFTER resurrection to the disciples.
How beautiful is that?
He could have had a perfect glorious body after His terrible death. He really deserved it.
But God is so different than our human minds can ever imagine.
He has a new body BUT decides to keep all the scars.
It’s mind blowing!
He is the ONE that feels with what we feel.
Thank you, Nadia for this sermon!
One of the best I have read so far , since I joined your online community.
Happy Easter from Germany!
Ree
This is the message that needs to be offered all the time. You will know us by and through our scars -- those that are visible and those we don't "share" but should. Mine are on full display.Thank you Nadia for the witness of your scars.
Happy Easter Nadia! Thank you for preaching the real Good News from your heart and soul.
Whenever I see a depiction of a Resurrected Jesus I look for the wounds. They are what freed me from the shame of my own woundedness. Being set free into the realization that we are one with one another and all of creation.
My mother left through the basement window to be with the next door neighbour who was 17 years her senior. It was a huge scandal. Everywhere I went I was pointed at and whispered about behind hand covered mouths. The ‘church ladies’ were THE absolute worst. It took the better part of 4 decades to even understand the shame I felt all the time. I completely understand folks from minorities that are excited to see someone like them on tv or in a movie role. I have been searching all my life for someone who looks like me on the inside. I can’t believe that today you unlocked that for me. Of course, Jesus sees my internal scars! He absolutely does doesn’t he? This is THE greatest day of my life NBW! Thank you for showing me Jesus this way.
That inherited shame is just as powerful as our own. Yes, the religious righteous love to hide behind a story like our mothers'. I've always felt like I had to heal at least two peoples' wounds; mine and my mothers. Nadia's message here is very freeing.
YES. My grandparents hurt my mother so, and then my father's parents hurt her too (and she hurt me because she didn't know anything else). She used to threaten me with church - "I'll take you there and they'll judge you and condemn you!" because that was all she knew, or had been told, about religion and what some now-dead person called "God." When I hit 40 I decided I was going to see Christianity for myself, make up my own mind. When I heard about being beloved of God, made in God's image, forgiven, loved, given grace, that was the first I'd ever heard of those things. What if our wounded, tormented parents had gotten the messages about love, forgiveness, grace too? What more could have been?
Thank you for this beautiful sermon Nadia from one whose mom left when I was young. ❤️
Happy Easter, loves!
I was thinking this morn how Jesus felt the father forsook him for a second (or longer) on the cross--and he knew the plan!!! That gives me such hope!
And I love where you point out that the fear wasn’t (isn’t) that Jesus is like God, but that God is like Jesus! Heck. Ya. Jesus truly is the coolest, bestest, lovingest--all the good. None of the bad! And therefore, so is the Father. And therefore--wow!
Thank you NBW! 😘😘😘
Thank you for your vulnerability to share your scars and story. My mother left me when I was fifteen years old. I was "conned" into believing that she was still a good mother, a normal mother. Part of me wanted to believe she still loved me the way a mother really should. It wasn't until I was in my mid twenties and had a son that I started realizing she had mental issues that prevented her from connecting with me in a healthy way. I eventually had to end the relationship with her. She is passed now. Although I've moved on and healed from this in some ways, the scars will always be there. Mother's day still stings a little and I do feel the loss the holiday carries with it. But on the flip side, when I see good mothers, like my wife and those who really have the capacity to love their children it brings a sweet warmth inside my heart.
You talk about the scars both on the inside and outside. It reminded of something I heard Katherine Wolf say who has a ministry towards the disabled, she being disabled herself. She said, "we all have wheelchairs, whether physical or otherwise that take a toll on our minds." As a I thought about it, those wheelchairs are a limitation, but they can assist us too. I mean thats the purpose of a wheelchair? So this thing that I see as a character flaw inside myself, be it my own anxiety or depression, or whatever, can actually help me in some ways to become more whole or more congruent? Maybe. IDK. I guess, if anything it puts me in touch with my own humanness and that helps me to relate to others, and to be less judgmental. It's hard for me to accept my own faults (sins) that I struggle with but Jesus loves me for who I am, both the good and bad parts. And if I can accept those parts of myself a little bit more each day, perhaps I can find some peace in this crazy world I live in.
Tears and rejoicing in love and pain.
Thank you from the bottom of my soul and body, Nadia. May you be strengthened.
"What if God was like Jesus". Mind blown. Spirit renewed. Peace indwelling. Thanks
I listened to your eulogy for Rachel for the umpteenth time because you introduced me to a Mary Magdalene I had never met before and thus to an Easter morn like no other. I have thanked you before and now will thank you once more.
Happy Easter, Feliz Pascua Nadia! Thank you, muchísimos gracias for your beautiful message on the resurrection ✌🏼💜🙏🏽, Bob Kantner
Happy Easter, all!
Thank you for this, Nadia.
It brought back a memory of a conversation I had with a priest many years ago.
We talked about the Inner Stigmata; the wounds that Jesus sustained emotionally and spiritually. And that he told me that I had an opportunity to consider it a blessing to share in some of that with Jesus. (I was experiencing my first of many episodes of what the now call schizoaffective disorder)
It helped create a deep well of connection for me, that I have drawn from for over 50 years.
I am blessed that God can use anything to reach me.
Thank you again for your constant transparency and giving of yourself.
You talk about scars and messiness in such a beautiful way. Life is dense and almost impossible to wade through with feet we have ourselves encased in lumps of concrete. Your writing gift is crystal clear and twinkles with God's truth. Thank you x