You Know the Cure

You can relate to her suffering. You know it too well. You still bear the scars. It’s such a common disease, yet it affects people so differently. This menacing malady is stealthy; its victims can have it without ever realizing it. Worse yet, it somehow convinces us that we’re fine… but we’re not. Slowly, deliberately, the sickness steals away the very things that make us human. Some suffer silently, others lash out. The disease elevates the ego, activates the anxieties and inflates the fear. Some hearts become numb while others drown in emotion. The disease progresses from self-reliance to self-delusion to self-destruction, often taking a toll on others in the process. Some say there is no cure, but you know better.

You can relate because you’ve had the disease. In a way, you still do. Recovering from this sickness seems to take a lifetime. Full recovery is coming… soon. In the meantime, you’ve been set free from the worst of it. It’s never totally gone, but it doesn’t control your life any more. It’s like you’re more fully alive and every breath is a gift. The first key to the cleansing is realizing you have the disease. It’s easier said than done. The nature of the illness defends against such a revelation. Some people seem to realize it themselves, like a gust of wind turning them toward the truth. Most people need to be guided to The Cure by someone who’s recovering. That’s you.

You can relate to her suffering and you want it to stop. Your new life has unleashed a deep compassion, a heart that breaks for those afflicted and a willingness to hurt so others can find healing. She’s your friend but the relationship isn’t what it should be. Talking rarely ever results in understanding. Glimpses of vulnerability often retreat to staunch self-reliance. Occasionally, it seems like she’s ready to acknowledge the ailment. Regularly you pass by the opportunity to gently bring it up. Your thoughts race, “What’s wrong with me? I know The Cure. Don’t I want her to have it? What am I so afraid of?”

Fear is the great enemy of love. “What if I don’t know enough? What if I say the wrong thing? What if she rejects me?” The excuses for silence resemble the illness more than The Cure. No, The Cure does not recoil in fear. The Cure speaks the truth while never lacking in love. The Cure loves without ever compromising the truth. He is even willing to die so that others may be made well. You remind yourself that you aren’t The Cure, but you know him and are called to be a guide for others to know his salvation. The Cure was sent here by The Creator to restore us to life. He speaks through you.

A newfound confidence and boldness arises within. The same Cure that has given you new life will give you the words to say and the wisdom to know how to say them. Patiently you wait for the right time to say something. It takes a while, but then the moment comes. She’s expressing how she’s hurting from things others have done, and a few of her own poor choices. “I’m so sad to hear of your troubles. I know someone who’s made a huge difference for me in handling the hard things in my life. I truly believe he’s The Cure. His name is Jesus…”