Transformed From Death to Life

There is something soothing about the rhythmic click of knitting needles. This is particularly true after the heart has been wounded. What I have found in my life is that when a wounded heart is untended, bitterness begins to grow. Every time the hurtful scene is replayed on the mind’s eye the bitter root grows deeper. Along with the growth of this bitter root, if you listen carefully you will hear the faint click, click, click of the knitting needle.

Each detail is carefully knit into a shroud so that by the time bitterness has finished its work the shroud is ready to wrap the relationship that has been strangled to death. Sometimes we deceive ourselves and think that we’ve been knitting a blanket where we can find comfort as we rehearse all the details of how we have been wronged. Each shroud has unique colors and patterns. But shrouds, no matter how well they are crafted, are for covering the dead.

Bitterness brings with it death. Not only does it kill relationships but with each strangled, shrouded relationship part of our own heart dies as well. This is oppression. And according to Proverbs 15:15, “All the days of the oppressed are miserable.” I have both seen and known this misery.

Something that has died cannot bring itself back to life. Something that has been wrapped in a shroud cannot unbind itself. But there is good news. Even though we cannot call a corpse to come forth from the tomb, Jesus can.

When Jesus called Lazarus to come forth from his tomb he was still bound by grave cloths. It took the hands of others to set him free. I prefer to be independent when I’ve been hurt or wounded; however, true freedom from shrouds of bitterness calls for humility. When the heart has been released from bitterness, it is transformed from death to life. That which had been shrouded in misery is now invited to a feast.