Broken and Beautiful

Just because something is broken, doesn’t mean it no longer serves a purpose. This thought has been running through my mind on so many rides lately. I’m not sure exactly why or what first started me thinking on it, but I’m pretty sure I know who put the thoughts in my head. 😉

Oftentimes when something we have is broken, we may be inclined to just throw it away. Sometimes we’re able to easily repair it but other times not. I remember listening to and watching a Gaither reunion video and Mark Lowry made a comment that broken pots spill more water. That’s not a profound statement on it’s own but think about that for a minute. That means if you’re carrying a pot to water maybe some vegetables or some flowers and that pot is broken, it’s actually also watering everything along the way as it leaks.

This pertains to people as well; the more broken you are, the more you can be used. If you’ve been broken, you have experiences in your life that can help others. If you’ve been through a traumatic experience, you have knowledge to help others that those who’ve not had that experience don’t. Someone who has experienced a loved one that’s addicted, experienced a miscarriage or infertility, suffered the loss of a spouse or child, been abused, battled cancer or another disease, battled an addiction yourself, or any other number of situations they may have scars from, has so much to offer! Never feel like being “broken” makes you worth less. In reality it makes your opinion and knowledge worth more. You have so much to offer and may be just the connection someone needs to survive what they are facing.

Perfection, healing and absolute beauty can come from brokenness. Some of the most beautiful artwork is made from broken glass, broken china, pieces of metal, and many other materials that are recycled after being discarded. While riding I’ve seen some recycled metal made into a large dinosaur in someone’s yard as well as bird baths made into fairy gardens, stepping stones made with what appeared to be broken plates, wagon wheels used as decorative entrances to homes at the end of their driveway, and other recycled projects that all helped to remind me that broken can be beautiful.