“We are all broken, that’s how the light gets in.” – Ernest Hemingway
Everyone, is somewhat broken. We are all born whole. A perfect and pristine creation. But as soon as we enter into this world, sometimes within minutes, events start their attack on our perfectly polished porcelain, and our facade begins to crack. I’m reminded of that analogy of someone smashing a plate on the floor, then gluing it all back together and saying “I’m sorry”. The cracks still show and the beauty is not as it once was. Sorry, while very considerate, does not fix everything. We need to stop and think about what we are saying, or doing before the damage is done.
Even though the damage is irreversible, it is when we are broken that we seek out strength. We seek healing. It is when we reach out to others, or to a higher being we cannot see with prayer. It is when we are broken, that we seek others that are broken too. We come together and console each other in our healing. When we are broken we venture out of our comfort zone, our bubble that we trusted to keep us safe. We begin the search for a better way of life, because we don’t want any more damage done.
Some of us are never completely put back together no matter what we do. We are just shattered beyond repair. There are too many pieces missing that can never be replaced. But that is what makes us glow from the light shining through our gaping cracks. That is how the light gets in and warms us from the inside out. The light cannot be contained within us, and emits light onto the others around us.
I am a collector of things. I thrift often in search of precious and one-of-a- kind treasures. I search out the weathered and tarnished pieces that hold a story. I find beauty in their rusty goodness. Items that have withstood the terrible storms, extreme temperatures and have survived. The tarnished silver. The discolored ironstone platters with their beautiful patterns from crazing. The nicks and scratches that proudly show their age. I showcase these pieces in my home with pride. I don’t try to bring them back to their original beauty. I love them just as they are. They hold a history of being handled. They were useful in their day and needed daily, again and again, to become what they are today. I see wear and tear from something that could not be replaced. So loved, that it couldn’t be tossed away in the trash heap.
I believe that is what the universe does with us. It saves us from the trash pile. A higher being gently picks us up and reuses us again and again. The more we are used, the more precious and beautiful we become. We become the conversation piece among our peers. We have a story to tell. A history that can be seen by our distressed facade. Imperfection. The cracks and missing pieces that make us unique and irreplaceable.
Embrace your history. Embrace your hardships. Embrace your story. You are still here. You are still needed and have a purpose. We are all indispensable. And when our life is over, we are put up on the shelf for all to see and admire. We are the treasure that another needs in their life. No matter who you are, you are needed by someone. Stop hiding your worth. Stop hiding under that basket and let your light shine for all to see.
The Musings Of An Angry Woman 