Nearly 400 years ago, William Shakespeare penned this line of wisdom:
"He jests at scars that never felt the wounds." The Bard understood
the heartstrings of connection that bring together people who have experienced
common woe in life's experiences.
You can read about such things in books and intellectually understand
pain, despair and sorrow, but there's just something totally unique
about sharing your own experience with someone who's been there
and back, or perhaps is still finding his way. Simply put—"it
takes one to know one."
Such understanding is introduced in an article titled "Marine to Marine"
written by staff writer David Zucchino that appeared in the Los Angeles
Times of July 31, 2005.
We often hear of the nearly 2,000 U.S. personnel who have been killed
in Iraq, but often we have not focused on the 14,000 men and women who
have been wounded. There is one who is walking among them whose actions
can guide us toward some profound biblical understanding and illuminate
future prophetic events. Meet Lt. Col. Tim Maxwell.
The moment of pain meeting pain
Writer Zucchino introduces us to Lt. Col. Maxwell as he comes to the
bed of a wounded marine. The young man tries to snap to attention as the
officer walks into the hospital room. The young 22-year-old corporal,
whose leg is shattered from combat, can barely get off a salute due to
his excruciating pain. Zucchino captures the conversation of two veterans
who bare not only their wounds, but also their inner scars.
"Relax, relax," Maxwell says as he rests his hand on the
man's shoulder. "Just wanted to see how you were doing."
The corporal looks up and says, "Doing good sir. How about you?"
"I feel like I got no brain left," Maxwell says. "My
brain got whacked pretty good. I kind of have to fake it to get by."
