“In His last hours, in His abandonment . . . He [Jesus] breaks the temptation to self-protect- – and gives the vulnerability of Himself.”- Ann Voskamp
Ann Voskamp continues Chapter 2 of The Broken Way by describing a dare for the next leg of her journey. Eucharisteo comprised the first leg. However, the second leg leads higher up and deeper in. And the dare — let all the not-enough in her broken hands become broken into more than enough. In other words, Ms. Voskamp expresses this as a dare to let all her brokenness transform into abundance.
As a result, the safest embrace embodies a way of being wanted, held, and found in the midst of falling apart. Therefore, Ann analyzes Jesus’ response in His last hours and abandonment:
“Jesus doesn’t look for something to fill the broken and alone places; He takes and gives thanks. . . . In the midst of intimate betrayal, He doesn’t defend or drown Himself in addicting distraction; He breaks and is given – – He gives His life . . . . Out of the fullness of the grace He has received, He thanks, and breaks, and gives away — and He makes a way for life-giving communion. A broken way.”
Ann admits this makes no rational sense. However, she adds, the greatest truths always are the greatest paradox.” In a sense, a kind of communion appears in a trinity of brokenness:
- broken places
- broken people
- becoming broken and given
Perhaps, Ann wonders, shattered places with broken people bring us nearest to the heart of Christ. First, brokenness gives way to abundance. Then, that abundance- next broken and given- gives way to an ever greater abundance.
Today’s question: During your desert, land between time, how have you given in to the temptation to self-protect? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “How remembering becomes a healing”
