Our gaze
lingers on our brokenness. We recognize
the shards of hurt, shame, and grief. We
wonder – what now? Or why me? What do we do with these pieces of the
whole? We know that we will not be the
same, but what will we be?
We search
for the pieces that have scattered, looking to see what can be repaired. Gathering the shards before they cut others,
tucking them away – in loss and sorrow, sometimes in shame or guilt.
We are
quick to discard that which is broken, wanting only perfection and completeness. We hide that which we think won’t meet the
world’s approval. We seek to just move
on, thinking that if we don’t dwell on our brokenness that we can at least
pretend that is all is right with our lives and world.
We gather
up the pieces, placing them side by side.
We often feel very alone in our laments, isolated from others. Some will disengage from others, not wanting
to share their brokenness.
Yet, it
is in our brokenness that we most need others.
There is an African idea of “Ubuntu”
which means “I am because we are”. In
Greek, the word “koinonia” speaks to
community and fellowship. In the
beginning God created us to be in community, to be in relationship with others.
The
cultural concept of individualism is a myth.
We cannot survive without others – whether for our food, infrastructure,
health and the like – we live in community no matter how close or separated we
may feel from others. We are interdependent
and need one another.
As
Church, we gather to worship, learn, and serve together. We can do more together than we can by
ourselves. We gather to share our lives
and the ways in which we have experienced God’s presence in our midst. We gather to name our laments together – for
our own lives as well as the brokenness of the world.
Gathering
reminds us that we are not alone. More
than mutual commiseration, we offer one another a place to have our laments
heard. Jesus says “come, to me all who are weary and carrying heavy burdens and I will
give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). We
find this rest, comfort and support as God works through the gift of
community. Healing can begin as our
pieces are re-formed in our gathering. We do not carry others burdens but
support one another that they may carry them themselves.
With whom
do you share your brokenness?
Who will lament with you?
Use your
time of reflection this week to turn to someone you trust to share your
laments. Think about the communities
that you are or have been a part of who have been a place of support and
healing for you.
Pieces
for reflection: each week, different scripture passages, poems, songs, etc. will
be suggested to use for your own reflections on the week’s theme. Use whichever ones are most helpful for
you. As you do so, use the following
questions to guide you in your reflections:
1) What
about this speaks to my own life?
2) What
might God be saying to me through this?
3) How will
I approach my life in a new way?
Suggested resources:
1) Read Joel
1:13-20
2) Read
Matthew 20:1-16
3) Song:
“Gather” by Christopher Williams (link: https://open.spotify.com/track/6yuN8yfxGXbOqgMIbBB0Kr)
Lyrics:
To be known, to feel safe
To be honest and unafraid
To leave the past, run into hope
To find together we are not alone
Refrain
I need you
You need me
This is why we gather
This is why we gather
To remember why we
matter;
This is why we gather
To share our story,
silence the noise
To hear the wisdom in
the tremble of a voice
To carry healing for
all the scars
To know we’re more than
our broken hearts
Refrain
When we help each other
fight the fear,
be present with one
another
We will find that’s
where the life of God is lived
To give courage, to
hear it now
We are beloved this is
holy ground
Refrain
Weekly
reflections written and developed by Pastor Jennifer E. Boyd
Additional Resources
used:
The
Millennial Narrative by Jaco Hamman (weekly themes gleaned from this book)
“We will Remember” CD, songs and music by
Christopher Williams
All
Biblical citations are from the New Revised Standard version (unless otherwise
noted)
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