"It's as if a great bird lives inside the stone of our days and since no sculptor can free it, it has to wait for the elements to wear us down, till it is free to fly." Mark Nepo

Monday, November 30, 2009

Healing


One minute I held the carving knife firmly in my left hand, scrubbing it vigorously with the brush in my right. The next minute it was somehow airborne and swooping across my index finger, just under the nail. As it clattered into the sink I looked in horror at the newly formed inch-long, too-deep-to-believe, gash.

I am generally a very careful person. Sometimes too careful. However, in the kitchen I tend to release all care. It's where I'm the most comfortable and confident. I don't always follow the rules because I know how far I can push things. Usually. That said, I've cut myself before and have a couple of decent scars on my hands to show for it. Potato peeler against thumb, glass breaking and slicing a knuckle with too much pressure applied in dishwater, knife piercing a hand used as a cutting board.

None of those wounds compared to this one. It scared me into considering a visit to the emergency room and stitches - my possible first ever. A consideration I pushed away in exchange for applied pressure, a couple of prayers, and a we'll-wait-and-see.

Much later in the day, when I got up the courage to really look at the cut, it was bad. No pain. Not a lot of bleeding. Just long and deep. When I finally let Walt look, after making him promise not to tell me I needed stitches, his face and silence scared me almost as much as the gash itself.

I decided to give it a day: gauzed and taped my finger; held it protectively away from whatever I was doing; cradled my hand gently when at rest. Even though I'm left-handed and the wound was to my right index finger, I actually use my right hand for a lot. Like brushing my teeth, peeling an orange, zipping my jeans. All activities nearly impossible to do with an extended index finger.

And so what I got from my decision to let my body take care of itself was a week of focused awareness. I helped her in every way possible - keeping the wound clean and dry and protected. I was careful with that hand - mindful without distraction.

The healing process was nothing short of miraculous. By the next morning the canyon was filled with tender red flesh. The skin around the cut was puffy but not inflamed. I could look at my finger without feeling too woozy. One more day saw the wound getting smaller as the ends of the cut began to close. Each successive day revealed more healing and allowed the return of more freedom.

Healing is a theme of my life. There has been much to heal, both from without and from within. But like my finger, the true healing had to start from the deepest place of the wound and work its way out. It couldn't happen without help. If I'd ignored my cut finger and not cared for it at all, the process would have taken much longer, with some possible bad detours into infection and pain.

Healing has its own timeline, even under the best of conditions. It won't be rushed. It also doesn't allow skipping around or avoiding the icky parts. Inside out, deepest first, or nothing sticks.

One small cut has a huge impact on the rest of the system. All those years of insisting the emotional wounds of childhood, adolescence, young adulthood weren't important did nothing to diminish their impact on my ability to be a whole human being. The toxicity of those untended wounds made everything harder, brought me to the edge of death more than once, kept me imprisoned in the very walls I built to keep them hidden.

Even healed, wounds remain tender for a long time and require gentle attention for much longer than seems should be necessary. My finger no longer needs bandaging, but it cannot endure much pressure before it hurts. There's an interesting dent and some bruising and the promise of an interesting scar to come.

It's amazing how one simple cut can be a metaphor for one complicated life. But it's all there. The major wounds of my life, after years of hard work under the skilled and loving tutelage of a gifted counselor, are healed. (I reread this sentence several times, testing it for truth, finding just that. Truth.)

What remains is tender, interesting, uniquely me. What remains is a new appreciation for the deep wisdom of my body, and gratitude for the gentle lessons she offers. What remains is a sense of wonder at the gifts born from pain and the hard work of mindful healing.

picture from Flickr

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

I never thought of it before, but you're right. Healing does occur from the inside out. I've been avoiding going to deep within, even though I'm seeing a therapist. I think it's time to dive in.

Tamika: said...

Healing is such a powerful thing. I have never been more sure of God's great love for me when He reaches down from Heaven to cover me with His love.

Deb said...

Love this post, Deb. Great job showing the healing process, and it is a process. From the pain, to the scar, to the moving on...

Janna Leadbetter said...

Through sharing your experience with healing--your finger but so much more--you help those of us fortunate enough to read this post. You've got such wisdom, Deb. I wish everyone were connected with you, for you've got so much to teach.

Anonymous said...

Such great wisdom here! I hope your Thanksgiving was lovely. hugs
x0

Carrie Wilson Link said...

I'm crazy about what remains.

Wanda said...

Love your truth. Love. Period.

Midlife Roadtripper said...

This is a lovely piece. You have woven it well, both with your words and your life. Impressive piece.

Tabitha Bird said...

I know all too well about the wounds you speak of. And am a work in progress :)

JOY said...

This post hits center for me. Gives me a lot to think about. I know I need to go deep to heal but I'm in a not-sure-what I'm trying to heal phase. All I know is I'm hurting like that tender cut. I know because of emotions that keep spilling out. Thank you for your words. They are a light on the path.

Jessica Nelson said...

This is such a lovely analogy.

Anonymous said...

Healing for the planet...healing for ourselves,one cannot emphasise enough compassion and patience to counterbalance damage done in haste without thought, no matter what the intention was at the time.A beautifully insightful piece of writing and observation, thank-you Deb.

colbymarshall said...

Yikes! But I am so glad you're okay!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for a beautiful piece of writing, one which resonates for me. Makes me realize this journey is ever-evolving, with some big bumps in the road. You inspire me to delve further.

Anonymous said...

I love this metaphor! Well done!

Lorna said...

So powerful; the metaphor and the peace you bring to the truth of your healing. I will buy any book you write. Thank you for this piece.

Amber said...

Oh, so well said. A great image for inner pain and healing.

;)

Deb Cushman said...

Beautiful job, Deb.

Mark Lyons said...

Your comment that you have never had a stitch really struck me...because it meant either you had never been wounded deep enough (but I know better) or you have always been unwilling to seek help for the wounds and get better by yourself (gee, am I talking about myself).

A beautiful post, an amazing analogy and a profound understanding. Thank you for the beauty and truth of your writing.

Love

Mark

kario said...

This is absolutely beautiful. I am so sorry you cut your finger, but I am so pleased you shared your insights here.

Thank you for this.

Love you.