Scars are really an interesting reminder of a fascinating ability that our bodies have. But they also remind us of the wounds and pain we've felt in our past.
I remember most of the causes of my scars. The scars on my lip are probably the root cause of my strong disliking for dogs. The long scar on my right upper arm is from the summer that I did construction with some friends. The three small scars on my right forearm are from my sister's incredibly dangerous fingernails from our childhood years.
There are the countless scars on my knees from bicycle wrecks and scars on my right hand from who knows what. And when I go up stairs or jump my left knee pops. And not that it's a scar, but it reminds me of this past summer and what it was to me.
The scar on my chin will always remind me of someone from my past. I remember her coming to the hospital to see me. I knew that she was worried even though it wasn't all that serious, granted my twisting around on the ground probably looked pretty bad. Regardless of why, it reminds me of my time with her, long ago.
But there aren't just physical scars - there are emotional scars. And I think that this type lasts longer. It's the harm we do to people that pierces more than just flesh that sticks. Intentional or not, it scraps our soul and leaves us feeling abandoned, alone, weak, unwanted, or undeserving. And you can't just stand up and brush that off - Neosporin doesn't absorb that deep. The only way to heal those wounds is to let nature and time take it's course.
My only concern is that when those wounds heal, do they leave scar tissue? Does it leave you numb to pain and unable or unwilling to reconnect to people? to trust them? I suppose they do. Imagine putting all of yourself into something - someone - and to then have it mean nothing. Five months ago it was my life and now there's barely a trace...just a faint scent in the breeze that I can almost put my finger on, but it's gone before I can.
It's like falling off of a bike, I suppose...
