Honest Advent: Day 4

December 03, 2022, By: Jimmy Scruggs

Day 4: Vulnerability

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body. Psalm 139:13-16

The thought of being vulnerable was unacceptable to me until 11 years ago. It was then that I became involved in a support group. In that group I was fortunate enough to be introduced to three men who would all become friends and mentors. Two of these men have passed away, and the third I only see on a rare occasion as they live a good distance away and their health is not great. However, at the celebration of life for one of these men, I was reminded of the other that had passed, and was fortunate enough to spend time with the third.

The wonderful thing to me about these men is that they had discovered that vulnerability gave them two abilities that they did not have before. One of these was the ability to give themselves the opportunity to explore those parts of their being that needed help. By becoming vulnerable they were able to begin a path that led to freedom, joy, acceptance, and most importantly, love. The second ability that vulnerability gave them was a way to help others. Vulnerability was a way to share with others their wounds to help others understand that they were not alone in this journey of life.

I know that for me it was the vulnerability of these three men that sent me down a path to love and joy that I had not experienced up to that point in my life. My only hope is that I can show my vulnerability to others in that same way, helping them see we are all similar in many of our struggles and that everyone can benefit from a kind friend and mentor (or even 3).

—Jimmy Scruggs