When We Feel Broken
Planning a vacation generally hinges on knowing your destination. The same could be said about journeying through brokenness. The destination point is common for all; it’s the point of acceptance and peace. Some call it resolution. We’ve covered a number of “overnight” stays this week. One final spot for an overnight is the “hotel of recovery and new life.”
When we take our time to really experience the points along the road to acceptance, we need to spend time celebrating the reality that we have recovered. Recovery can be recognized. Recovery is a time when you take your cherished pre-broken memories and celebrate what was, what is and what will always be! Recovery is that time when you discover an abiding, invisible presence empowering you just like you “used to be” empowered. Recovery is a time for continuing the relationship in a new and dynamic way. Life is life again!
The “hotel of recovery and new life” is our last stop this week. Truly, I hope you have a great weekend.
Ben Keckler
09.12.08
Showing posts with label Our brokenness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Our brokenness. Show all posts
Friday, September 12, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Daily Devotions - Thursday, September 11
When We Feel Broken
There is a highway in the coal mining regions of Pennsylvania that runs through the town of Centralia. The town is a modern day ghost town because there are continual underground fires smoldering in the old mines. Centralia, once a place of busyness because of the mining business, is now abandoned.
Grief, loss and change can cause the fire within to dwindle and become nothing more than smoldering coals. We feel abandoned, lonely and fearful. Feeling forsaken is normal. Experiencing physical symptoms due to distress is common. Seeking help and support from professional caregivers and people you trust can be beneficial.
One ancient writer who had reasons to feel abandoned felt inner relief one day and proclaimed: “Now says the Lord…., Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” (Isaiah 43)
When you feel abandoned and lonely, do not fear for the Holy One is with you.
Ben Keckler
09.11.08
There is a highway in the coal mining regions of Pennsylvania that runs through the town of Centralia. The town is a modern day ghost town because there are continual underground fires smoldering in the old mines. Centralia, once a place of busyness because of the mining business, is now abandoned.
Grief, loss and change can cause the fire within to dwindle and become nothing more than smoldering coals. We feel abandoned, lonely and fearful. Feeling forsaken is normal. Experiencing physical symptoms due to distress is common. Seeking help and support from professional caregivers and people you trust can be beneficial.
One ancient writer who had reasons to feel abandoned felt inner relief one day and proclaimed: “Now says the Lord…., Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” (Isaiah 43)
When you feel abandoned and lonely, do not fear for the Holy One is with you.
Ben Keckler
09.11.08
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Daily Devotions - Wednesday, September 10
When We Feel Broken
“If only I would have”…..; “I could have” …..; “I should have”…..--- are all phrases we often use as we react to and reflect upon a given situation, particularly a painful situation. The “would have, could have, should have” statements are ways we deal with guilt. Almost everyone likes to believe they are in control. Almost everyone likes to believe they are covering all the details related to life. Then, reality comes. We are reminded about our inability to control. We discover that we failed to complete some now realized, but then overlooked, details.
After the shock and anger start to subside, we are faced with guilt and pain. Maybe those “would have, could have, should have” statements are true; maybe they are no more than wish-filled projections that we believe might have made a difference. In every case, there are at least two things to remember. First, billions of others are dealing with feelings similar to those we are feeling in our brokenness. Second, there is a steadfast love present within us to forgive and to encourage us to forge ahead as we face our brokenness.
God be with you.
A Prayer: Let me feel your steadfast love in the morning and throughout this day, O God.
Ben Keckler
09.10.08
“If only I would have”…..; “I could have” …..; “I should have”…..--- are all phrases we often use as we react to and reflect upon a given situation, particularly a painful situation. The “would have, could have, should have” statements are ways we deal with guilt. Almost everyone likes to believe they are in control. Almost everyone likes to believe they are covering all the details related to life. Then, reality comes. We are reminded about our inability to control. We discover that we failed to complete some now realized, but then overlooked, details.
After the shock and anger start to subside, we are faced with guilt and pain. Maybe those “would have, could have, should have” statements are true; maybe they are no more than wish-filled projections that we believe might have made a difference. In every case, there are at least two things to remember. First, billions of others are dealing with feelings similar to those we are feeling in our brokenness. Second, there is a steadfast love present within us to forgive and to encourage us to forge ahead as we face our brokenness.
God be with you.
A Prayer: Let me feel your steadfast love in the morning and throughout this day, O God.
Ben Keckler
09.10.08
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Daily Devotions - Tuesday, September 9
When We Feel Broken
We’ve all heard the phrase “You’ve got to get over it!” We’ve probably all spoken that phrase at one time or another. When something is broken we either fix it or throw it away. In doing this we “get over it.” But, when it comes to our inner brokenness, we rebel when others try to “fix it” and we are frustrated because we can’t throw “it” away.
We know that there is no answer to “why?” Because there is no answer we can easily get stuck in the anger/resentment stage. When you are stuck or you know others who are stuck, remember to “be still” and trust that the rhythm of life will see you and them through.
A Prayer: Help me to work through my stuff and not feel pressured to get over it, O God.
Ben Keckler
09.09.08
We’ve all heard the phrase “You’ve got to get over it!” We’ve probably all spoken that phrase at one time or another. When something is broken we either fix it or throw it away. In doing this we “get over it.” But, when it comes to our inner brokenness, we rebel when others try to “fix it” and we are frustrated because we can’t throw “it” away.
We know that there is no answer to “why?” Because there is no answer we can easily get stuck in the anger/resentment stage. When you are stuck or you know others who are stuck, remember to “be still” and trust that the rhythm of life will see you and them through.
A Prayer: Help me to work through my stuff and not feel pressured to get over it, O God.
Ben Keckler
09.09.08
Monday, September 8, 2008
Daily Devotions - Monday, September 8
When We Feel Broken
The feeling of brokenness is a real feeling. We live in a terrified world; it is something I could see in the eyes of many Rwandan people as I traveled there a few weeks ago. There are literally billions around the world who are able to relate to this dark, cold feeling.
An early stage is experienced when shock and disbelief dominate our thoughts and our feelings. Listen to your heart and listen to the heart of others this week.
The words of disbelief must be acknowledged if we are going to continue to grow and become all that we are created to be. To heal we must fully talk about the inner trauma that we sense when brokenness visits us.
A Prayer: Let me examine the broken spaces and places in my life without fear, O God.
Ben Keckler
09.08.08
The feeling of brokenness is a real feeling. We live in a terrified world; it is something I could see in the eyes of many Rwandan people as I traveled there a few weeks ago. There are literally billions around the world who are able to relate to this dark, cold feeling.
An early stage is experienced when shock and disbelief dominate our thoughts and our feelings. Listen to your heart and listen to the heart of others this week.
The words of disbelief must be acknowledged if we are going to continue to grow and become all that we are created to be. To heal we must fully talk about the inner trauma that we sense when brokenness visits us.
A Prayer: Let me examine the broken spaces and places in my life without fear, O God.
Ben Keckler
09.08.08
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