How Time Heals A thought from Henri Nouwen

Yesterday I was plunked back into a dark time in my life. I was being interviewed for a research study by Stanford University about the long term effects of surviving a Bone Marrow Transplant, such as I received almost a decade ago.

I had no idea of the old wounds this interview would dredge up, but I also saw how many of these were healed -- not by forgetting them but by working through them truthfully.

All in all it was a good experience and it will help others facing this aggressive cancer treatment protocol.

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How Time Heals

"Time heals," people often say. This is not true when it means that we will eventually forget the wounds inflicted on us and be able to live on as if nothing happened. That is not really healing; it is simply ignoring reality. But when the expression "time heals" means that faithfulness in a difficult relationship can lead us to a deeper understanding of the ways we have hurt each other, then there is much truth in it. "Time heals" implies not passively waiting but actively working with our pain and trusting in the possibility of forgiveness and reconciliation.

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Share your thoughts on this reflection. These reflections are taken from Henri J.M. Nouwen's Bread for the Journey.

Visit HenriNouwen.org for more inspiration!

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