The subject of “the pool at Bethesda” alludes to the Thorton Wilder play, “The Angel that Troubled the Waters.”
The play is based on the biblical verses of John 5:1-4, however, it changes the end of the parable.
The play tells of a physician who comes to the pool of Bethesda, hoping to see the stir, and then be the first in the water, and healed of his melancholy and debilitating depression. An angel appears and troubles the water. Everybody at the pool hopes to be the first one in and to be healed of their disability.
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An angel appears and blocks the physician at the very moment he is ready to step into the pool and be healed.
Angel: “Drawback, physician, this moment is not for you.”
Physician: “Angelic visitor, I pray thee, listen to my prayer.
Angel: “This healing dear physician, is not for you.”
Physician: “Surely, surely, the angels are wise. Surely, O Prince, you are not deceived by my apparent wholeness. Your eyes can see the nets in which my wings are caught; the sin into which all my endeavors sink half-performed, cannot be concealed from you.”
Angel: “I know.”
Physician: “Oh, in such an hour was I born, and doubly fearful to me is the flaw in my heart. Must I drag my shame, Prince and Singer, all my days more bowed than my neighbor?”
Angel: “Without your wound where would your power be?”
“It is your very sadness that makes your low voice tremble into the hearts of men. The very angels themselves, cannot persuade the wretched, and blundering children on earth, as can one human being broken on the wheels of living. In Love’s service, only the wounded soldiers can serve. Drawback.”
Later, the person who enters the pool first, and was healed rejoices in his good fortune, then turns to the physician before leaving and says:
“But come with me first, an hour only, to my home. My son is lost in dark thoughts. I — I do not understand him, and only you have ever lifted his mood.”
“Only an hour… my daughter, since her child has died, sits in the shadow. She will not listen to us, but she will listen to you.”
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For me, the play pierces with the ‘bullet message’ of this wonderful line— “Without your wound where would your power be?“
This seems to me to be a slow percolating of Paul’s teaching, mainly, that it’s through my weaknesses that I can truly minister to others like Jesus. It’s the Apostle Paul declaring it’s the weak things that work to create something solid and true in us. And I hope in the many lives that this ministry, brokenbelievers.com reaches.
I hope so anyway. Pray for Linda. Pray for me.
I first encountered this excerpt in the book, “Abba’s Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging,” by Brennan Manning. The book is a worthy read, and worth finding if you can.
Please check out Brennan Manning’s Facebook page for more info.
Broken Believers 
Bryan, I will be using this tomorrow at the Prison in Wildwood, thanks for sharing.
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As a broken believer myself, I struggle with schizoaffective disorder. I have found that the very thing that “disables” me is also one of the greatest blessings of my life, because I have learned to rely on God so much more than I may ever have if life had gone otherwise. I understand how His grace is sufficient for me and all the weak and broken who maintain our faith and still follow Him, whether we limp or crawl.
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Kevin, thank you for sharing. I wish my son could have seen/met you. And thank you for being an encouragement to others who struggle with “any” of the “disorders” so many have to face. You are so right – “whether we limp or crawl” – does not matter!!!!
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Bryan, I love this post. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read it, and it brings tears to my eyes every time (which is actually a good thing). Tomorrow I am meeting with a couple of new friends about my involvement in a local ministry called “Shattering Stigma: Mental Health and the Church.” I’ve been to one of their conferences and will be talking with them about sharing my story at a future conference. I went to Broken Believers this morning to search for this very post so that I could share it with them because I want to read it as part of my talk at the Shattering Stigma conference. Imagine my surprise to find you had reposted it today! Although, truly I’m not surprised because God’s hand was in it, I’m sure. Blessings to you. Linda
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Thank you so much, Pastor B. This is just perfect . Not easy, but perfect. God bless you!
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Reblogged this on tannngl and commented:
You always provide rich insight.
God bless and multiply your ministry.
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amen amen amen!! we are broken, beloved and powerful in that very brokenness which we once were afraid to tell! God’s great grace leads and heals in ways that we’ll never fully understand until we can see from eternity! Thank you for the great post!
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