Broken.

Being broken literally means to no longer be in one piece.

Brokenness looks different for each person.

Whether we are missing part of who we are, missing someone who made us whole, feeling empty, or realizing that our life is scattered in shattered bits – we know and sense the feeling of being broken.

To know we are broken is an unsettling and vulnerable feeling, one that consumes us. We try our best to keep our brokenness to ourselves so that no one else has to see the mess we’re in. Our hope is to find any possible way to fit our broken pieces together and give the façade that we are whole; we tread lightly and choose our words carefully in fear of our brokenness being revealed.

Let’s face it.

Broken things are set aside. Broken things are overlooked. Broken things diminish in value. Our world looks at brokenness and cringes. Our world views brokenness as weakness. Our world sees brokenness and often turns the other way.

Sharing the broken pieces of our lives is terrifying. Allowing for others to see our shattered bits of life in a strewn out mess is far from ideal. We want others to see us with our lives together – an image portraying the best of who we are.

But, really, who are we kidding?

Our lives are fragile, whether we choose to view it that way or not. If we keep ourselves from everything, there may be a slight chance that we won’t break. If we isolate ourselves from all people and every situation we might remain whole.

If we’re realistic, we just know being broken is part of life.

Embrace the brokenness as an opportunity to begin again.

And while you may say it’s easier said than done, know that I’m working towards embracing my own broken pieces – it’s time for me to begin again too.