Becoming Strong in the Broken Places

“When Job's three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.” - Job 2:11-13

“On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus' disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?" So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, 'The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there." The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.” - Mark 14:12-16

These Scripture passages are an intriguing pairing: (1) Job’s plight of immense suffering (2) and Jesus and the disciples preparing to secretly gather in that upper room around the Table. We have Job and Jesus, the suffering servants, and is the rest of the crew, Job’s three friends and Jesus’ disciples. All of them curious, concerned and confused about what was happening. Job’s friends don’t seem to be particularly helpful in the midst of Job’s suffering – but they are there with him. And Jesus’ companions don’t seem very engaged and committed to the mission – but they are there with him.

I am becoming more and more aware of the obvious, it seems. And here is the obvious. I am discovering that everyone I know, and simply every human being anywhere and everywhere has a story. Each of us is a story of struggle and triumph, pain and joy. It was no different for Job and Jesus, and certainly it was no different for their friends and followers. To some extent, each of us knows something of Job’s plight. Who here has not experienced loss in some form? We know, too, the connected-ness with Christ and one another that comes during a time of communion together.

I am reminded of Ernest Hemingway’s poignant words in A Farewell to Arms. “The world breaks everyone, and afterward many are strong in the broken places.” Through all of the loss and heartache Job hangs in there, clings to his faith, does not compromise away the idea that he is a good man (not perfect, but good), and becomes strong in the broken places. The disciples that stayed with Jesus through their own trials and tribulations, as well as Jesus’, became strong in their broken places and built the Church and spread the faith.

Yes, “The world breaks everyone, and afterward many are strong in the broken places.” The question is: How do we become strong in the broken places?

The first thing I think of is moving into the brokenness, whatever it may be, rather than running away. That is where healing is. That is where Christ is.

Tam and I were very moved a couple of weeks ago as we gathered in San Diego with the men and wives of my Marine Officer Training Class. It’s been 40+ years since we have returned from the ravages of Vietnam.
It was clear that we all still carry the wounds and scars from 40 years ago and always will. Yet, the mix of tears and laughter shared and the communion of being together provided an incredibly healing balm.My officer friends want to gather every 2 years because this is our way of moving into the pain with our brothers supporting one another. That is where Christ is. These gatherings help us become strong in the broken places. All of our time together is in a very real sense, a time of Holy Communion.

We become strong in the broken places by allowing others to accompany us in our time of brokenness, and by being willing to accompany another in their time of need. We become strong in the broken places by opening ourselves to the healing touch of Jesus Christ.

So the formula we have for becoming strong in our broken places is fairly simple: Move into the brokenness – Share that journey with someone – Be open to Christ’s healing care. The catch is that the journey itself can be difficult. It can take anywhere from a moment in time to a whole lifetime.

So, we have this place, the Lord’s Table. This ritual called The Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion or the Eucharist. Anyone and everyone can gather to commune with our Savior to find blessing and companionship and strength in the broken places for the journey ahead. AMEN.

 

 

 

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