There’s some of brokenness in my life. There’s some wholeness, too.
Some of the brokenness is mendable. Some isn’t.
For example, I have lots of angel figurines. They were all gifts – and are treasured. At some point each one of these figurines’ heads have broken off. I know, kinda weird, huh? I’ve been able to glue most of the angels’ heads back on. Some I haven’t though. There’s a concrete angel on my fireplace hearth with its head sitting beside it.
Sometimes visitors will comment on it. Some will just notice it and look away – quickly. Mayhaps some don’t even notice it.
That’s how it is with brokenness. It happens. It is.
- Sometimes it’s right in front of us – and invisible at the same time.
- Sometimes it can be fixed. Even when it’s been fixed, it still holds the experience of being broken.
- When it can’t be fixed, it reminds us that perfection isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be.
How do you live with the cracked and broken parts of your life?
Lisa’s Cheap Therapy blog 
Good timing with this one. I have recently exposed, through events and the subsequent introspection, some cracks and broken parts of my life. In a way ironic because I had always put a positive spin on them with out thought. I am not sure just how I am going to repair them. After 35 years of disrepair I am presently at a loss. Long hidden or ignored hurt has surfaced. I am not even sure if I thought of it as damage then so many aspects of my life were collapsing around me. Dreams dying hasty and sometimes violent deaths. Some of it was fogged with self-medication of various sorts, some simply by escaping place and time. The current rent in the fabric of my being was not even a thought at the time so much a part of my existance it was. As with some of your angels I am not sure if it can be repaired, or even if it is worth it. I have thoughts in both directions. More prayer/meditation (I am of the belief they are one and the same, or at least inseparable) are needed. So I guess that is how I deal with brokenness.
I was really moved by Jim’s comments. “Brokenness” is something we all experience. We usually hide it away, and with practice, that works great. At least for the time being. But it’s always like a cut we get that we never treat. It usually becomes infected, and causes bigger problems later. And if we get lots of cuts we never treat, we have lots of infections….that cause problems later. I sure have my share of those. Like Jim, if we realize the infections we have, we can begin to treat them. And with the right treatment, they’ll ALWAYS get better. Nothing ever needs to stay broken….unless we have some reason to want it to. Ain’t much fun in that.
Jim, i am humbled and honored by your honesty. and clearly, i’m not the only one affected by your truths. it’s so humbling for me to be introduced and REintroduced to my broken.ness and cracks. may we all live with them with so much trust. thank you.
Tom, thanks for your rich insight about how we choose to manage potential infections. and right you are – it AIN’T always fun.
by remembering a remark made by a very astute and daring woman: she said she did not want to be regarded as “well-rounded and well-adjusted”, instead she wanted to like an old silver teapot full of the dents and bangs of having been used in life. I like the idea of my dents and bangs being badges of experience even though I probably didn’t like the sharp edges when I ran into them.
Excellent remarks by Carol…that old silver teapot she describes has real genuine “Character.” Character is a product of God’s work..and God continues to work on us through continuously putting us through trials and tribulations (cracks, dents and bangs)…all along creating strength in us and a stronger, more secure character. When brokeness seems unmendable and unbearable one must reach into one’s own present character…for me, I do not think negative thoughts nor dwell on those cracks, or dents, or the big bangs in my life…I think positive thoughts and thank God for the simple things in life, like seeing his creation with eyes that still focus, smelling Spring roses full abloom, hearing the coyotes howling in the cool clear night, and feeling the touch of a loved one. I work hard to maintain this attitude and with the character I have developed over the years, the older I get, the easier it becomes to accept the cards I am dealt. The cup is either half empty or half full. When you always look at life on the half full side then your character has matured to the point of PERFECTION. Your angels definately have character…especially those with the biggest cracks.
LOVE that teapot image, Carol. THANKS!
Rick, your description of that half full character is beautiful. cheers (from a half full cup) and thanks!
Your blog subjects, just seem to hit our screen when we are trying to address our everyday challenges.
Thank you for your attention to this given us focus to adjust our thoughts and prayers.
Why put the broken in a closet to hide it! Many of us do, feeling it it out of sight, removed from the need to address.
Roger, isn’t timing holy & amazing. i’m always grateful i’m not the time keeper – whew! i join ya’ll in the Mystery ,prayer and love.
Your timing is really something, Lisa. Just this morning, I finished reading “With a Woman’s Voice” by Lucy Daniels, a novelist and psychologist who, through psychoanalysis, managed to mend herself of “breaks” that reached back to her earliest childhood; and who now has a foundation, the purpose of which is to help others remove creative blocks. Like Jim, I have cracks and brokenness that I have hidden, tho’ I have taken them out of hiding occasionally for hopeful, yet not altogether successful mending. After reading Daniel’s book, I feel a renewed need to inspect them more closely to see if they could be holding me back creatively, more than I want to admit. (I would like to think I am stronger, that I have taken my own advice to “Get Over It!!) Meditation/prayer…., of course I will always keep trying, but what about psychoanalysis? Does it work? Is it worth the time, money, and emotional investment? I don’t know…
Mary Louise, sounds like that’s one rich book. thanks for letting us know about it. however your mending goes – know that i am among the MANY who love, honor and celebrate you (even/especially with cracks). you’d be tough to take if you were any closer to perfect ;).
I am blushing…, and the feeling is mutual!