Removing the Bandages

When I was a child, my sister and I would stay up with my father watching the classic movies. Not just any black and white vintage movies. The scary movies from the 1930s-1950s. To me, no one is a better Dracula than Bela Lugosi. Only Boris Karloff perfectly portrays the Mummy and Frankenstein. And the best Wolf Man is none other than Lon Chaney, Jr. Of course, let’s not forget that every horror film needs an amazing comedy team to lessen the fright. Who else but the best—Abbott & Costello boldly interacting with every one of those terrifying characters. We could not fear because daddy was right there. He would laugh when Abbott and Costello were afraid, which would ease the fright of the most intense moments.

Since it’s October, and the month ends with Halloween, I thought it would be fun to see how these characters relate to excellence and life. On Faith Connections Friday, we connect a piece to faith.

Let’s start with the infamous Mummy. The Egyptian buried alive because of loving the princess. Thousands of years later, someone utters words that resurrect him to new life. Covered in bandages, the Mummy searches for his lost love.

Most obvious about the Mummy is the bandages wrapped around the body for the purpose of decreasing decay and increasing preservation. Are the bandages we wrap around ourselves so different? We preserve ourselves from pain with bandages of thinking inappropriate thoughts, hanging with the wrong people, taking harmful substances for the short-lived high, or remaining in toxic environments. We stay wrapped up and bound, temporarily covering a pain, and find it hard to get unwrapped and free.

We use bandages for protecting our bodies medically. After a medical procedure or a skinned knee, bandages are used to protect the wound so it can heal. Applying medicine and clean bandages increases the time for healing before permanently removing the bandage.

Removing bandages of hurt or bitterness involves forgiving someone in order to heal. Removing bandages of wrong thinking involves redirecting our thoughts to the truth. Removing bandages of fear involves getting out of our comfort zone and taking one step at a time. Over time, we receive the healing necessary to be free.

Our Connections Challenge: Identify any “bandages” that keep you wrapped up and bound. What challenging action can you take to begin healing?