Anatomy + Remedy of a Father Wound

Anatomy + Remedy of a Father Wound

by Joel Howard

A Father Wounds with distance

A Father Wounds with control

A Leader Wounds with prestige

A Leader Wounds with promotion

A Shepherd Wounds with fear

A Shepherd Wounds with inward motives

A Pastor Wounds by removing relationship

A Pastor Wounds by seeing not the flock

But in his heart he longs for

Something that he has not

A candidate for this wounding

A person who qualifies must

Never be real, always pretending

Must shelter his joys deep inside

The one who would inflict this damage

Must cry deep inside but not out

Hiding the fear of the Abandoned

Hurting instead those he loves

I saw in a dream a family

I saw there a father far-off

And all noticed all his pretending

Yes all sought to make him return

And in my attempt to command him

To come and love those he loves

I yelled down, instead at the ones who

I ought to love, whom I love

Yes this is the wound of a Father

This, of a Mother, her wound

This of a Leader, a Pastor

This of a Statesman, a Boss

The wound having nothing to do with

People, but instead building walls

Building a steeple of protection

Protecting yourself, you the Boss

It is productive, is it not?

Yet, worse, it is counter indeed

Tearing down and defeating

Those we were called now to lead

Fear is the friend of the leader

Slave and task-master of all

Who with their eyes looking inward

Feed not the lambs, but themselves

Horror of horrors

Shrieks lone worse

Never has scary been scarier

Than those who have this wound

It's what we all fear, we all run from

Only to do what they do

For with our own wounds we would wound those

Whom God has given us to

O what a crisis, pandemic

Of Leaders who lead for themselves

Cannot stand the thought of 

Unveiling their poverty to

The children, the lambs who

Like wet cement are just setting

Like frail paint, are now painting

Jesus looks just like the Father

The exact imprint of his soul

We, as Christians must be like him

Imitate God on our own

So with our children, we recreate

Ourselves in them, my friend

Want to avoid all wounding?

Look like the One you'd commend

Defeat distance with closeness

Dishonesty with Truth

Tell God the truth and do daily

Pour out your all to him, you

For O Child, he accepts you

For, O Leader, he does

Willingly pay for your faultings 

Willingly cover your sins

I saw a child, she was screaming

Utter alone, and afraid

For she had just been the victim

Of my attempt to contend

With the father who hurt me

By walking out instead

Of letting his loved ones into who

He always tried then to hide

O Father I cry

O Jesus I pray

Remedy this sickness today!

Turn hearts to the Father

Turn Fathers to sons!

To Mothers and Daughters

The same, be it done!

I cannot ask for another

I cannot say there is more

If this be the pill, the concoction

I know there need not be more!

The blood, O the lifeblood of Christ

The spilt out blood and broken bread

Of Christ who was sent from the Father

To all this mess undo

This the redemption we crave now

Neither you nor I can amend

For though we try to undo it

We only perpetuate, further send

God, be our Savior
Jesus, our Friend

Cover our weakness
Bring us again

Beholding is life

Seeing God is grace

We cannot give

What we have not in place

Cannot fill one empty jar to the next

Can't skip over our emptiness to fill "them"

Fill me then Jesus

Have me O God

Touch me O Father

You are enough!

I crave you Jesus

And that is no problem

The problem is gluttony of spirit

"I'm good, you got a problem!?"

Sanctify pride and rebellion

Cast out the devil's mood:

Cast out this bleak attitude

Cast out this my way or highway 

Cast out this hell-bound intention

Cast out this serpent reaction

Cast out this empty affection

Cursed intention

Forbidden infection

Graceless contraction

Glean from the Maker

Glean from the Full

Glean from the Master

Glean, child, it All

Glean and be satisfied

Like a river come do

What all passages do: 

Give, then come to

The Source again, again

Undying Life

Evermore True

This would you find

If my Savior have you

Have you a wound

Have you this sickness?

God is the remedy

Christ is the defense

Come, have a seat

In Physician's offices

Great peace will you have

If you study now Him

Great victory, friend

So now, come have Him!

Be bathed in the Remedy

Now, for eternity

You've found the One Thing!

Jesus, our Everything!

Jesus - our remedy!