Touching Wounds

Thomas gets a bad rap. Just because he doubted what the other disciples were saying and wanted to see Jesus for himself - to touch his wounds - he’s been known as “Doubting Thomas,” ever since. 

I’ve always liked Thomas. He gave me permission to have doubts of my own. When I look back on my spiritual jouney, I can see that the times I allowed my doubts room to breathe, instead of disguising them with false certainty, have been among the most authentic.

Thomas’ greatest legacy, however, is not his doubts, but the way he came to know the risen Lord, personally. Reaching out his hand, he sought to touch Jesus’ wounds. When he did, he exclaimed, “My Lord and my God.”

I’ve always wanted to know Jesus personally, too. With two thousand years separating us, though, I can’t reach out my hand and touch his wounds. What I’ve found is that when I reach out and touch another’s wound, it’s as if I’ve touched Christ’s wounds, and the result is always a closer relationship with God.

• When I sit by a bewildered soul who had just entered the rooms of AA and listened to her story that’s hauntingly similar to mine, it as if Jesus has pulled up a seat and joined us.

• When I walk with a friend who’s going through a divorce, and we share how hard it is to live apart from our children, our common sadness transforms our walk. There’s no burning bush, but the ground becomes holy.

• When I am working with my therapist and she makes me touch an old wound of mine, one I’ve denied for years or didn’t know existed, I leave feeling God’s presence in ways I never have before.

Thomas came to know God by touching wounds. The good news, we can too.

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Also, Spiritual Java, a 365-day meditation book, was published in December. It’s available through Amazon.