Monday, February 05, 2007

How can you mend a broken heart?

And how can you mend a broken heart?
How can you stop the rain from falling down?
How can you stop the sun from shining?
What makes the world go round?
(OK, so I'm dating myself. Yes, it's the Bee Gees.)

The words can haunt anyone who has "been there, cried that." And in the last three weeks, I have listened to stories of people with heartbreaks beyond anything I have ever experienced. And I've experienced plenty. (Thanks.)


The Psalmist wrote:
Why am I discouraged? Why am I restless? I trust You! And I will praise You again because You help me, and You are my God. [Psalm 42:5]

As I listen to people talk, I am struck by all of the ways that we humans try to "fix" things. I mean, think about it...
...drugs

...alcohol
...workaholics
...sports
...political junkies
...do-gooders
...sex
(Did I leave anything out?)

As if we can change things on our own? I don't think so.
As if I can "fix" anything by my advice? That would be a big uh----nope.

I get a little weary of "happy plastic people" dispensing "happy plastic steeple" advice. I think the only plastic church I'd like to see is this one! There, the pasted-on, happy-all-the-time-smiles would be 'natural'. (I mean, think about it... have you ever seen a frowning Lego?)

From where I sit, I can only see that this heartache is not unusual, in fact, it is something that we all seem to have to suffer through. Especially when the heartache is because of (quite honestly) my own dumb decisions, there's not much left to do but get through it. (I'm not saying that everyone else makes the same kind of "dumb decisions" I do -- sometime they are victims!)

So what can I do??
Dispense hugs freely...
And pray much...
And listen more than talk...
And wait and watch God work as we come out on the other side...

From our home to yours...

Deb


4 comments:

Rachel said...

Beautiful and you are right, there is a lot of hurt going around right now it seems. Thanks for this. It's amazing. And so are the Bee Gees, BTW.

Sally said...

Yes I could sing along there

Great post Deb....

Brother Marty said...

I found myself at your blog from a post you made at RevAbi's blog. For some reason, comment moderation wasn't working where I thought this post would be most appropriate. Nonetheless, I was intrigued by your reference to "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire", the title of a book I've just recently read.
I like that...fresh wind, fresh fire.
You've read the book? Or are your thoughts merely akin to that title.

Me thinks not.

Deb said...

Thanks for dropping in -
Jim Cymbala has much to say to those of us who have gotten a wee bit too independent of God or too casual in our everyday expression of all this churchianity.

Would that more of that dross would get out of God's way...

d