We are all broken people.

We are fractured, scared, beaten.

We often curse our brokenness - we see it as a liability, as something to be avoided.

If we talk about it at all, we apologize for it.

Here is a story about seeing the blessing in our brokenness.

Leonard Bernstein wrote a musical work called Mass, a work written in memory of John F. Kennedy. In the musical there is this scene.

"The priest, richly dressed in splendid liturgical vestments is lifted up by his people. He towers high above the adoring crowd, carrying in his hands a glass chalice. Suddenly, the human pyramid collapses, and the priest comes tumbling down. His vestments are ripped off, and his glass chalice falls to the ground and is shattered. As he walks slowly through the debris of his former glory - barefoot, wearing only blue jeans and a T-shirt - children's voices are heard singing, "Laude, laude, laude" - Praise, praise, praise." Suddenly the priest notices the broken chalice. He looks at it for a long time and then, haltingly, he says, "I never realized that broken glass could shine so brightly.""

(With thanks to Henri Nouwen, Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World, 1996)

"God uses flawed men to accomplish his purposes.

I am a flawed man.

I am a man in process.

God is using me now and will continue to use me in the future
to accomplish what he desires.

I am not perfect but I am available.

Come, O God and transform my heart."

By Stephen W. Smith, The Transformation of a Man's Heart, 2006, p. 19.

"Life is not a problem to be solved but a gift to be opened." (Wayne Mueller,The Legacy of the Heart: The Spiritual Advantages of a Painful Childhood).

Too many of us treat our lives or the lives of others as problems to be solved as opposed gifts to be opened!

If you are a teacher - do you see your students as problems to be fixed or as gifts waiting to explore new thoughts?

If you are a parent - do you see your children as problems to get rid of or as gifts who add to the quality of your life?

If you are in relationship - do you see your partner as a problem to be changed or a gift be embraced?

If you go to work everyday - do you see your co-workers as problems who complicate your life or as gifts who enhance your effectiveness?

If you live in a neighborhood - do you see your neighbors as problems to avoid or as gifts for which you are grateful?

How about your own life - do you see your life as a problem to be solved or a gift to be received and celebrated?

It's all a matter of perspective!

(c)2006 Ronald Friesen

The violence we preach is not
the violence of the sword,
the violence of hatred.
It is the violence of love,
of brotherhood,
the violence that wills to beat weapons
into sickles for work.

oscar romero, november 27, 1977

"Me? Serve her!"

"I don't serve anyone!"

Sound familiar?

This is the world we live in. Each one for himself or herself. Look out for Number One!

At the outset, let it be known that I am not a member of the Roman Catholic Church. At the same time, I find I can learn something from other Christians (that is another habit followers of Jesus learn to practice).

One of the teachings which Roman Catholics hold to is this: 'live out the Eucharist." This is such a part of the liturgy that worshippers leave the sanctuary with these final words ringing in their ears: "Go in peace to love and serve the Lord and one another." The assumption is that serving the Lord is serving the way the Lord did - by giving His life for the world.

Now reflect with me for a moment about this. As we celebrate the communion meal, we remember the death Christ died for us. We focus on the fact that Jesus voluntarily gave his life for us. This sacrifice is a sacrifice with extends to us the forgiveness of our sins. So it has real meaning and impact for each of us. Yet it is more than forgiveness.

Jesus' death is also a model for us - it is a picture of how we are to live - we are to voluntarily and willingly, just as Jesus did, lay down our lives for each other. We are to serve one another the way Christ served us.

I don't know about you - but I am often like the imaginery conversation at the beginning of this piece. I really am not interested in serving others many days.

But then again, I am reminded that Jesus served me! Is there any greater gift I can give to Him than the gift of serving others?

One of the greatest examples in recent memory of this kind of service is Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

After briefly discussing how God loved our world in and through Jesus, Mother Teresa writes these words:

"God continues to love the world in our day. He sends you and me to show that he still loves the world and that he has not stopped having mercy on it. It is we who today have to be his love and mercy to the world." (Mother Teresa, Heart of Joy, The Transforming Power of Self-Giving, 1987, pp.31-32).

Mother Teresa concludes her thoughts on this self-giving life with this prayer:

"Lord, make us worthy to serve our brothers,
men of all the world,
who live and die in poverty and hunger.
Give them this day, through our hands, their daily bread.
And through our love and understanding, give them peace and joy. Amen. (p.38)

Following Mother Teresa and other faithful followers of Jesus, let us practice this habit of the church - Serve One Another!