Broken Things

"My dad can fix it, he can fix anything that's broken"

We live in a "throwaway culture" as Pope Francis has called it. It is easy to get rid of people when they're too old, too slow, too boring. If something is broken, we toss it and buy ourselves a new one. We don't have to go to the tailor to get the dress fixed or to get the soles of our shoes superglued back on. Why? We can just buy a new dress and dispose of the old shoes to usher in a brand new pair--those were out of style anyway.

Living in Ethiopia, or in any developing country, one can quickly find the value of broken things. The flat tire can become the new toy, all you need is a stick and some imagination. The old dress that's too short is now your newest shirt. The water bottle can become the next soap dispenser--the examples are many. What do we normally do with the broken things in our lives?

A few months ago I was babysitting for my friend. Her second boy brought over a crucifix to me. I didn't realize until he belted out, "it's broken!", that it was actually broken.  (I'm sure it probably has something to do with the fact that he carries it up and down the house as if he were processing into Sunday Mass--precious!). As I lamented this fact he assured me with the following words: "My dad can fix it, he can fix anything that's broken". And as quickly as he said this, I knew God was speaking through the "mouths of babes". My Dad can fix this, He can fix anything that is broken.

What confidence, what assurance, what trust. I want that. I was reminded of a big truth from a little friend that day. God can fix the broken things; nothing is too broken or so bad that His gentle yet firm hands cannot manage.

Jesus, "the son of Joseph", "the carpenter's son"--He is capable of fixing the broken things. What we thought was heading towards the garbage dump, Jesus is redeeming in His love. St. Augustine said, "I looked into my deepest wound and was dazzled by Your glory." We can say, I looked into the messy pile of crap and broken things in my life and was amazed to see You there, working, hammering, taking things apart and putting them back together like you did as a boy in Joseph's shop. 

C.S. Lewis, in his book Mere Christianity, reflects on how frightened we become when God begins to tear down walls and make a lot of noise and mess in our lives. We become confused because we think we are doing well and have most things figured out. Then all of a sudden, we see things falling apart. We don't understand why, instead of being built up, it's like we're being crushed to the ground. 

This is how he explains the reason for all the broken things (forgive me for the extended quote): "Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks...But presently he starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense...He is building quite a different house than the one you thought of...You thought you were being built into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself."

God is at work. He is building. He is fixing the broken things. Many times He chooses to do this subtly, growing our character and integrity through the simplicity of everyday life. Sometimes He does this "fixing" through major graces and unforeseen lights in prayer. But regardless of how He fixes the broken things, the point is that He does. 

My  prayer is that we be reminded of this truth today: our brokenness, God can fix it. He can do something amazing with us. Walk in this confidence: "my Dad can fix it, He can fix anything that's broken".

Grace and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.

Image by: Nati Perez | Dominican Republic