Scars; they can carry different meanings to different people. The teenage boy may wear his sports injury scar with pride, while another scar tied to regret he may want to hide. How about your scars? Often it is the internal, invisible scars we try the hardest to hide. Consider the following lyrics, and how they may relate to your journey (by Alessia Cara, you can listen here).
She just wants to be, beautiful
She goes, unnoticed she knows, no limits
She craves, attention she praises, an image
She prays to be, sculpted by the sculptor
Oh, she don't see, the light that's shining
Deeper than the eyes can find it
Maybe we have made her blind
So she tries to cover up her pain
And cut her woes away
'Cause covergirls don't cry
After their face is made
But there's a hope that's waiting for you in the dark
You should know you're beautiful just the way you are
And you don't have to change a thing
The world could change its heart
No scars to your beautiful
We're stars and we're beautiful…
She has dreams to be an envy, so she's starving
You know, covergirls eat nothing
She says, beauty is pain and there's beauty in everything
What's a little bit of hunger?
I could go a little while longer, she fades away
She don't see her perfect
She don't understand she's worth it
Or that beauty goes deeper than the surface
Oh-oh, oh-oh
So to all the girls that's hurting
Let me be your mirror
Help you see a little bit clearer
The light that shines within
There's a hope that's waiting for you in the dark
You should know you're beautiful just the way you are
And you don't have to change a thing
The world could change its heart
No scars to your beautiful
We're stars and we're beautiful...
The image we used above reads, “You are not broken, you are becoming.” While we may all feel broken, our brokenness should never lead to the conclusion that we are irreparable, or discardable, or damaged.
At the Centre we believe every life is made in the image of God, and whether you are a person of faith or not, the fact remains the same - you have the ability to transform those scars into something you can wear without shame. Our scars can mean the following:
Survivor
Resilient
Growth
Courageous
Overcomer
Teacher
Empathy - because of my scars, I understand the scars of others
Scars. We all have them. You are not alone. So, the question becomes, what do you want to become as a result of your scars? Faith and hope provide us with the ability to transform the mess of life into a message that can inspire and encourage others. We believe there is a source of hope available to all of us. Wherever you find yourself, know that your story isn’t finished, and your scars, well they indeed can be part of what makes you beautiful!