Advent Day 4: Brokenness

“Our brokenness is so visible and tangible, so concrete and specific, that it is often difficult to believe that there is much to think, speak, or write about other than our brokenness.”
-Henri Nouwen
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As a kid, it was hard for me to understand how or why the holidays could be so tough for some people.
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But the holidays are not untouched by the brokenness of humanity.
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Oftentimes that brokenness is magnified by the chasm between the grief we feel and the cheer we see, or the cheer we think we’re obligated to FEEL, but don’t.
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Take heart. Advent confronts the brokenness of our world.
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It says that it’s ok to not be ok. Even more, it gives us permission to hope in the midst of our brokenness.
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It promises that broken things will be made right, and it does so without dismissing the hurt caused by the brokenness.
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It acknowledges, and does not ignore, our pain. It meets our pain with compassion. It confronts our pain with hope for healing.
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And it bids us to be compassionate to others, a healing force in a world being mended.