“Good to let the ugly past rest in the hands that have scars” (Rose Marie Miller).

I went to a training about how to have Gospel conversations with trauma in mind. Basically, it’s all about how to share your faith with someone who’s dealt with PTSD in the past.

I’m not suddenly an expert on PTSD. I’m not sure I fully understand all the ins and outs of how past trauma can affect present day emotions and behavior. I’m not sure I’d even know what to say to someone who’s dealing with it.

But I do know that Jesus still has nail-scarred hands. No one in history ever experienced more trauma in one 24-hour period, much less a life time, than Jesus did from the time of His arrest to His crucifixion. No one suffered more physically — not even counting carrying the sins of the world on His shoulders — than Jesus.

I think about Job and his friends. They were at their best when they sat with him in silence. They weren’t so hot when they opened their mouths and tried to explain his suffering. They got even worse when they tried to blame him for his misery and even pointing out what possible sins had let to his trauma and tragedy.

I think the key is empathetic listening. Not listening with a view to correct or to fix, but simply to understand. I believe that God promises that when we are attuned to the Holy Spirit and in submission to His will, He will give us the right words to say when the time comes. It won’t be my wisdom or cleverness but my obedience that will matter.

I’m looking forward to another season of Room in the Inn starting next week. Maybe I’ll be better at having conversations with the men that come through on Monday nights. I’m praying for me and all the other volunteers that we will see God’s healing hand through us all throughout the next 5 months.

It will be in good hands. It will be in nail-scarred hands.