Broken People

I wonder where we got the idea from that there is such a thing as a perfect person. We all seem to have this faint picture in our minds of our perfect selves – whom we fall short of – invariably leaving us feeling disappointed. Then we turn and look at the images of strangers especially those in Hollywood and think: “Wow, they are beautiful and famous and successful.”

The reality is that every person on the planet is like a rough rock with edges and we rub against each other in life. This rubbing is often painful. Sometimes it breaks us. Hopefully for most of us it shapes us into something more polished, mature. But not perfect. No one is perfect.

It is very hard to acknowledge the truth about yourself. Accepting it and then loving yourself – warts and all as they say – is crucial to your wellbeing. Acceptance doesn’t mean you don’t want to change but it is the place from where change begins.

There is only one healing balm for broken people that keeps them from being alone and bitter. Forgiveness. Merciful forgiveness. It doesn’t matter if the other person is more to blame or ‘more’ broken in your eyes. You can’t be happy and free if you don’t let it go. This process will always repeat because we are rubbing remember.

I’m one of those extra sensitive types. For me the emotional challenge of rubbing feels daunting and overwhelming some days. There is nothing I hate more than the feeling of failure when I hurt someone else or cause conflict. But there is no other way to live. If you pull yourself away to try and protect yourself and others you end up broken and lonely.

Better to be broken and loved than broken and lonely.

And there is the wonder of life. That we can be loved in our brokenness. Accepted for who we are despite our weaknesses. Even if you struggle to find another person who can express that to you there is a Creator Who never relents in the love pulsing through Him for you.

One of the greatest lies of organised religion is that His love is conditional – Don’t sin then you can be accepted. He never said that. Instead He said: “Come to Me, those who are weary and heavy laden (broken in my words) and I will give you rest.”

Rest from what? Our constant striving to find acceptance and approval? Our desperate attempts to be better? Escape from our emotions and the pain of unforgiven hurt? Whatever it is YHVH offers us a safe place. He loves broken people.

I often have to break a bracelet and start over. It feels like a waste of time and effort. Like a mistake. But mistakes in life remind us of our brokenness which is a good thing. And it rubs you just a little smoother bringing maturity if you’ll roll with it.

As for me I’m grateful for all the other broken people that I’m privileged to be rubbing through life with. For even though we are broken we are glorious. Each one of us totally unique and necessary for this world and the people around us.