A physician comes periodically to the pool hoping to be the first in
line and longing to be healed of his melancholy. the angel appears but
blocks the physician just as he is ready to step into the water. The
angel tells the physician to draw back, for this moment is not for him.
The physician pleads for help in a broken voice, but the angel insists
that healing is not intended for him.

The dialogue contuniues — and then comes the prophetic word from the
angel: "Without your wounds where would your power be? It is your
melancholy that makes you low voice tremble into the hearts of men and
women. The very angels themselves cannot persuade the wretched and
blundering children on earth as can one human broken on the wheels of
living. In Love’s service, only wounded soldiers can serve."

Christians who remain in hiding continue to live the lie. We deny the
reality of our sin. In a futile attempt to erase our past, we deprive
the community of our healing gift. If we conceal our wounds out of fear
and shame, our inner darkness can neither be illuminated nor become
light for others. We cling to our bad feelings and beat ourselves with
the past when what we should do is let go. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer said,
guilt is an idol. But when we dare to live as forgiven men and women,
we join the wounded healers and draw closer to Jesus.

from ABBA’S CHILD by Brennan Manning.