Tattered Wings

Tattered wings

By: Carole L. Haines

We’ve all had them

Cuts that reach down to the bone

Emotional thrusts, sometimes physical thrashings

People, places, things, happenings

All these seem to come with jagged edges

I’ve heard it said that “Hurting people…hurt people”

I’ve been on both ends of this truth

I’ve received the blows and I’ve inflicted them

But nonetheless, it hurts …I hurt

In a world obsessed with perfection

Of one form or another

Be it beauty, wealth, charm or name

We need to be brave enough

To take off the outer trappings

And reveal that we are not

Not perfect, That is

We all have tattered wings and ragged clothes

Imperfections need to be exposed

And not just exposed, but celebrated

That’s how we stop hurting one another

We give up the pursuit of perfection

Admitting that we just can’t do it

Confessing that we just keep failing

Crying out to the God of Grace

Whose perfect Son became all our imperfections

And hung there clothed in our jagged edges,

Our tattered wings, our ragged clothes

And God, well, He takes away all these things

And puts a ring on our finger

Sandals on our feet

And clothes us in the Robe of His own Righteousness

The Righteousness of Jesus Christ.

So go ahead Believer,

Expose your imperfections to the Love of God

Perfect love casts out all fear

Perfect love heals all wounds

It bears all things, believes all things

Hopes all things and endures all things

Perfect love …Never fails