“I get to live into the dare that . . . though shards of our broken hearts pierce our lungs’ every breath, there’s the grace of a miraculous communion of all the broken.”- Ann Voskamp
Author Ann Voskamp concludes Chapter 13 of The Broken Way by stating fuller inclusion in the life of Christ comes from loving broken people during times of inconvenience. Therefore, dying to live = loving as much as you allow others to inconvenience you. People you can count on to show up have something real to show for their life.
Hence, loss possesses the potential to transform you. For example, Charles Spurgeon once said the bed of pain enabled him to grow in grace more than anything else. In addition, Elisabeth Elliot, wife of murdered missionary Jim Elliot (1956), weighs in on the subject of pain. Elisabeth wrote:
“I am very aware of the fact that pain is necessary to all of us. In my own life, I think I can honestly say that out of the deepest pain has come the strongest conviction of the presence of God and the love of God.”
The greatest returns come when we love with no expectation of receiving anything in return. And, Ann reminds us, “it’s never too late to live a remarkable, inconvenient life given to the interruptions of now.” Furthermore, Ann notes, interrupt comes from the Latin word interrumpere, meaning to “break into.”
As Ann concludes, you live “breaking into each new moment.”
Today’s question: What shards of your broken heart cause the most pain? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Grieving how plans change”
