Fractured Humanity
By Sheila Martinez

Imagine a glass door that has been hit with a flying rock. The pressure causes many splinters to begin running every which way until the whole pane is momentarily a crystalline prism of sparkles – until the release of the blow. Then all of the pieces cascade into a pile of shattered light. No connection left to what it was before. All form and structure gone.

Now imagine this same pane, before the release of the force. All the shattered pieces still hanging suspended in the former shape, but not whole. The pieces are independent, but without the support of the full form. Stranded in the pain of the blow.

This is a picture of the human condition. All of the pieces are here, so why can't we make things work? Why are there misunderstandings? Why do the people I want to be close to hurt within the relationship? Why are we not able to live like we want to? To have commitments that carry the weight of the relationship when the winds blow fierce?

The fractures can represent all kinds of issues that plague our condition. Depression, hurts, pains, disease, distress. Personal dilemmas: family problems, alcoholism, drug abuse, divorce, commitment issues of all kinds can be found within these fragments.

Each pane of glass is different – with a different series of shatters. So each of us, we carry or own set of fractures as individuals.

My life as the child of a teenage mom has left me with fragments that I am struggling with, as did my mother, until she left this life. Is it possible to heal these places? Does anyone have the glue?

Within myself dwells no way to put all of these myriad things together. It is too great for me. But thanks be to God, there is a way to begin to be restored. But, I have to agree to be healed. I have to push through the pain of the healing to receive the new life.

Saul, later the Apostle Paul, was blinded for three days. He was totally transformed during this time of extreme distress. Maybe I need to quit looking for the answer in the things my natural eyes can see and instead seek with the eyes of my heart the One who knows.

Lord Jesus,

How can I stand this body of desperation I live in? If You do not come I surely shall not see light in this place of dark dread. Help me to understand the healing force of Your love, oh God.

Lord, the fragmented places are so many times painful, but I know You will do me no harm. You desire to heal and restore all of these places. So help me to agree with the life You desire to give to me this day…and even within this very breath I am breathing at this moment. How much I want to be all You want me to be. Thank You for never leaving me…for I am lost without You!

Help me Lord, to be!

Amen.

Acts 17:27, 28: "His purpose in all of this was that the nations should seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him--though he is not far from any one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our BEING.”

If you would like to comment on this article, please send an email to:sheila@vine3.org