Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Broken People

The music played softly in the background; it's inviting tones welcoming people as they entered the sanctuary. People were hugging, exchanging greetings and smiles, finding seats and settling in for the morning service. Anticipation of the worship ahead hung in the air like a sweet summer dew. It was a good place to be. As I glanced around I noticed how some people struggled as they entered. I noticed the 18 year old boy who walked down the aisle supported on either side by his dad and his sister. He had been born with a twin brother 3 months prematurely. This boy survived with many health deficiencies and will never be able to talk or walk or eat on his own. He loves church. He especially loves the music. He worships by flailing his arms and beating on his chest with each deep note. I noticed the elderly lady in a wheelchair. How much easier it would have been for her to just stay home and not struggle with getting in and out of her car and having to navigate her wheelchair through the doors. I noticed another younger woman being pushed in her wheelchair by her young daughter. A woman who had been paralyzed from an accident many years before. I thought about how what she goes through to get ready to come to church each Sunday is much more involved that what I have to do. Yet she is always there. I noticed a man in the front row with his leg in a brace and bandaged from top to bottom. He was sitting sideways in the pew so he could rest his injured leg. He was just released from the hospital a couple of days ago, recovering from a motorcycle accident that has broken his body in ways that will take months to heal. Here he was in church at the first opportunity he had to get there.

So many broken people.

It occurred to me that these people all had outward signs of brokenness and I wondered how many other broken people were sitting in that room that morning who were inwardly broken. People with broken hearts, and broken lives, and broken feelings and thoughts and circumstances. Because we live in a broken world we all have brokenness in our lives.

So many broken people.

And we were all in that place that morning to worship the Creator who heals, restores, and binds up the broken. We were not forgotten that morning. We sang with all the breath in our lungs. We met at an altar of prayer and met with our Lord and He ministered to our brokenness; seen and unseen. We heard anointed words from our pastor as he shared God's incredible message of hope with us. Words written in scripture hundreds of years ago came alive as it inspired us with promise and purpose. Encouragement was given each other as we loved on each other and supported each other just as Christ asked us to do.

As we left the doors of the church that morning, we entered back into our broken world with our broken situations still in front of us. But is was different now. We were stronger, surer, and more purpose driven. For we had met with the One who promised:
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds - Psalm 147:3

10 comments:

Unknown said...

What a great message in your words Robin. Some are broken on the outside, but we are all broken on the inside. Until Jesus gets a hold of us and binds those wounds and makes us fit for heaven - because of Him.

Blessings!

Corrie said...

Beautiful!

Lucydolls' ramblings said...

Robin ~ Sunday was just what I needed. The past few months have been tough ones on me spiritually, emotionally and physically, I was so moved by God in the service on Sunday. I have felt revived and renewed and praying more all the time.
That pastor of ours is so annointed by God. Thanks for sharing him with us.

Aunt Angie said...

Robin your message is so wonderful. It touched my heart deeply this morning. We do live in a world of broken people, but I am thankful that we don't have to remain so. He came to heal and restore. I am thankful to be restored....thankful that He healed a broken heart and broken place in my life.
God bless you for being such an encouragement today!

Mishel said...

Wow! What a moving post--filled with the reality of the hope we have in Jesus, no matter if our brokeness is seen...or unseen.

Sonya said...

Wonderful insight. I often wonder the same thing as I sit through worship. I wonder if anyone can "see" my feelings and what I struggle with. I wonder what they struggle with. I wonder if there is anything I could do or say to them that would make their day brighter. The wonderful thing is that we are all participating in worship together and we go together before God's throne to lay our burdens down.

I really appreciated seeing things through your eyes!

gail@more than a song said...

So beautifully written and so true. It brought tears to my eyes...also made me sad to think of some our services lately; we've had some sweet times when the Spririt was moving and there are still people there that are so critical, makes me sad.

Dawn said...

Beautiful post. Thank you for coming by from Barb's site - I will look forward to visiting with you some more. We definitely have brokenness in our family!

Karen said...

This was beautiful, Robin. A beautiful reminder that no matter how broken we are, we can always turn to him for healing. Powerful!

Also, thank you for all you went through for the drawing. I just re-read the post and I appreciate all you went through! Atleast your dog is clean now:)

Anonymous said...

It is so easy after year of attending a Church not to notice the unique struggles of those around you. However, you have done both. Your ability to take an objective yet caring look around is amazing. God has gifted you not only with the ability to paint a picture with words but to us warm colors from the heart. CR