Piecing things back together

What is your 'go to' when things breakdown? Do you use super glue, duct tape, wire, or some other bonding agent? I like to use all of the above. Clearly, addressing the cause of breakage would be a good first step. Disintegration is caused by many things. Let me introduce you to an idea that breaking down might be okay in the long run.

As we hiked part of the Great Eastern Trail yesterday, I noticed the unusual road building material. In the photo, the shale-like material has disintegrated to form a firm road base. So, in falling apart, the shale actually becomes useful. Alongside the trail there were large lumps of shale bigger than basketballs just lying there. Mined and hauled to the location these lumps of shale were exposed to water and air. The decaying process began. BOOM! Solid roadbase is created by disintegration. These large 'balls' of shale fell apart when kicked.

The other day, a person asked me about my past. "So, did you get in trouble and party?" I responded with a "No." and mentioned that I lived a pretty mild life. Oh, don't get me wrong, I did some dumb things and was no poster child for holiness. And therein lies the heart of this blog. In all my sinfulness, I was broken into a bunch of little pieces. In this state of fragmented life, Jesus was able to do a work in me that may not have been possible had I had it all together. In other words, once I was broke then God could get my attention and do the work necessary in order that I might become a useful servant in the Kingdom of God.

I am absolutely fine with my state of brokenness because I know that Jesus can take all my little pieces and pull together somebody who understands grace and forgiveness. I understand in part what the apostle Paul was talking about when he said...

"That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in

difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10, NIV)