If life is broken, who can fix it?
From the perspective of a Westerner – life is hard to break, and even if it is broken, the extent of the injury seems diminutive compared to a broken life in Indonesia, Venezuela or Nepal.
Nonetheless, I can only know my TREE (Tradition, Reason, Experience and Emotion) and my TREE is rooted in the West. And from my perspective life is broken. To battle theology or philosophy is not my intention in this little blurb, only to spark conversation and thoughts (if only my own, that is fine by me). So if life is broken, what is the response? I give you two typical responses below:
1. I broke it and I will fix it. The self-reliant. This statement is a bold prediction based on self-confidence or ignorance… either of which is probably an adequate response. In America there is a smorgesborg of opportunity for those who want to fix their lives on their own. You only need time and money.
2. You broke it and you will fix it. Ahhh yes, the blame-shifter. This statement is based on the presumption that a person is not responsible for their actions and/or reacitons. If only I had gotten a fair chance at life, I would not be in this predicament.
The problem with these statements is that they start with the assumption that something is broken. Yes, of course, that is obvious… but why point out the obvious? I do this because we sometimes forget the answers to our most pressing question are usually right in front of us. We assume something is broken and our response entails either giving up or fixing. And in doing this we constantly are waiting for our lives to be whole, to be fixed – and then only then are we ready to be used.
In the process of being fixed (by ourselves) or waiting to be fixed (by someone else) we totally miss out on the present. We lose sight of the thing that God wants to use us for – at this moment. I have been guilty of this, and have seen months slip by in total apathy. So what is a correct response to a broken life? Well, maybe you are not broken at all, maybe your are just trying to be something you have not been created to be. Or the only way to entirely embrace life is to embrace your brokenness, and abide in the fact that only in brokenness can we be used by God to accomplish His work. Which is loving others where they are at, a response that leads to wholeness.
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In light of Paul the Apostle’s wisdom, taught and inspired by the Holy Spirit, Romans 8:28 is the most simplistic comment on this topic. To funnel all thought and discussion down to an even simpler statement, “life is a test.” Every person has been created to make a difference–every person has been shaped and molded by God for a special mission that only he or she can fulfill, and if we nhave lost sight of that mission, it is because we no longer know how to identify it. Something maybe gets “broken”, e.g., a relationship, an expectation, a wrong belief by the absolute truth of God’s Word, a hope, a dream, a mistake made, confidence in one’s self. For a moment we lose sight as we juggle the fragments of an image that is shattered and falling to the ground. From the moment we are born, to the day that God calls us home, we are tested by such events; these tests come in many other shapes and forms. In essence, everything is a test, and once we absorb this, it will become easier to bear the many challenges and trials of life. We will not lose our way because we will then allow God to change our heart, be broken and contrite humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God. God tests us to show us our strenghts and our weaknesses, to evaluate our progress, so that we might know ourselves and so that He can bring forth those treasures that are buried deep within ourselves and make us unique.
In Hebrew the word for “tested” is “neesa.” (Gen. 22:1) To find the deeper meaning of the tests God sends our way you have to look at the three additional meanings connected to this word: 1) “Neesa” –tested, wake up calls to cause us to walk on the right path; 2) “Neesayon”–trial or challenge, Here’s an old saying, “In a desert, there is always sunshine, but for growth you need rain, and for creativity and wisdom, you need thunderstorms.” If we reflect on this, we will quickly realize that the trials and tribulations that break us are tests designed to enable us to grow and realize our true potential in Christ with reliance on HIS strength; 3)”Nes”–flag or banner–something that you raise on high. If we can do #2 above, we will discover our flag, our banner-our identity, our unique mission, the purpose for which our creator breathed His life in us. If we can accomplish that we will become banners for our children, our grandchildren, and others God brings in contact with our lives. Like Abraham, whose tests became banners for us–beacons of light that leads us to God and His Son Jesus. These banners keep us going and enable us to cope, overcome, pass the test, and triumph; 4) “Nes”–miracle–In doing this, we will have allowed the Lord to create a miracle. A miracle is a phenomena that transends nature. When we are finally tested enough and become self disciplined, when we go against the natural man when tested and respond as mature faith should, the miracle of a changed heart has occured.
What ever life test you are in the midst of, remember these words as you wake each morning and tell yourself, “Kumu L’avodas Haborei”-”Rise up and serve the Creator.”
MOM