Sweetly Broken

Ron Pope

Why are the ones with broken wings so eye-catching? Not just one broken wing...nope, both are usually broken. They normally have dirty feathers....so dirty you can't tell that they were once as white as new fallen snow. Many times they are good at pretending they can still fly....and.... For the most part, they are easily scared off when I mention His awesome name....except when they aren't easily scared. He smoothed his dirty feathers back and he hid his wings very, very well. The relentless charm captured my attention right away.... And I waited for that perfect moment to lay the winning hand that would tousle his feathers a bit as he would start to walk away.....However, He drew closer....so close his beady, bird eyes actually gave way to kind, hazel-colored eyes. I stared a few seconds too long. He had an array of questions that completely destroyed all of my defenses. Now what? All I had to say was, "Jesus" and that became my solid, arms-length defense against all men.... Until now. Why was he curious? Why did he genuinely show interest in my life? My passion for Christ? Why did we connect so well? Why isn't he a Christian too? My arms are no longer rigidly out in front of me with palms facing out like a crossing guard. They have fallen down to my side...relaxed and slightly bent at the elbow. They are useless. I let him in slowly.... First, I asked him to show me his broken wings....asked him to explain how it happened. Then I started cleaning his feathers while I shared my story. Intently he listened.... And I knew it was trouble from then on. We have been spending time together on thin ledges at dangerous heights....and with every step... the edge gets closer and more slippery. My steps falter some days and he fumbles others.... Eventually, I fall first and he jumps after. When I land violently on the ground, I know what I need to do. I explain and he agrees....but his ignorance shows and it makes me sad. His wings will always be broken if he doesn't learn the purpose of his flight. My heart longs to heal them for him and help him understand. But we rubbed our feathers together. I'm no longer able to help. We dance on the ledge still... Just not as often. He still has a piece of me I can't get back.

Holding onto this!...this process tests your faith down to the last possible strand. Thank you @mikemccarthy_5 for reminding me of this passage! Thankful for what God has already done through all of this.

WELP, the mug says it all....today, "it's the big one".... I graduate from SUNY Cortland! Congrats class of 2014! #randommug