I had an interesting (and busy) weekend where the highlight was reading through the last chapter of ' a million little pieces' by james frey. This book has elicited intense feelings of compassion for the men and women who have to hit rock bottom and then face what their lives have become. In the book they face a variety of addictions from the different drugs to swearing and sex. The bare reality of brokenness spoke deep to my soul. I remember a time when I was broken and felt like my life and person-hood was only a bunch of fragments lying in a heap, with no sense of how they fit together as a person, or into the wider world. I suspect that was the point of the book, and I wonder how many people reading it looked back or into their lives for some introspection.
If we are honest with ourselves and others, then the brokenness is there. The truth is that on a daily basis we put on all sorts of masks in order to hide or obscure that very truth of our shattered lives. Sometimes the truth breaks through in spite of our best efforts to keep it under wraps. It is only then that we are forced to acknowledge this to others. It is only then that we ask for help, when it is already evident that we need it. The really sad side to this is that the rest of us looking on to someone else's broken life think that this will never happen to us. or we sincerely hope so anyway. We pretend that this resulted from crazy decisions made, poor character or discipline, or just plain bad luck. The truth is that we are all very close to the edge, closer that we could possibly imagine. Jesus made a number of people really cross by pointing out to them these and other facts. Their anger and rage was unleashed by this 'violation' by the tuth.
Financial consultants say that most middle-class families are only 60 days from bankrupsy. All that is required is a break in income streams for 2 months, and the wheels start falling off. You would never realise this looking at us in Woollies or Cavendish, thinking we are immune to the struggle others have. We blithely spend away , swiping those cards as if it could never happen to us.
In the same way we live frivolously with our hearts, minds and souls, as if we have endless resources. The truth is that we have a limited emotional bank account, and many of us are already in overdraft. We have to realise this about ourselves and those around us. We are fragile, fragile souls and need to treat and be treated as such. My heart breaks when I see abuse of others, and not only women and children but men too. We say things and act as if the paper thin robustness we portray is real. We know it is not so for ourselves, so dont be fooled into believing that is is any different for others.
Let other people touch your soul
Look after the souls of others
Tissue paper is a good packing material for hearts
Show people Jesus
I read a report of how a certain Mr J Arthur Brown is suffering a major deppressive episode, and cannot attend his trial. This developed after he was raped in the back of a police van. There are certain (darker) sides to me that is saying goetjoe for him. What he did was not much better, stealing money from orphans and widows in order to live it up. It is ironic that the money he stole is paying for his extremely expensive Mr Booth to defend him from prosecution.
I (intellectally anyway) understand that his guilt needs to be proven in court, this prevents anarchy in our society. But justice is another story completely, who makes sure that our society is just? Not that I necassarily want him to get his comeupance, but he needs to face the music. Is this incident not one way for Mr Brown (what is the J for anyway?) to face up to the criminal nature of his actions. White collar crime is often regarded as more acceptable to hijacking someones beemer via gunpoint. But what these refined and educated gentlemen (sic) do is no less violent to the individuals and communties at the recieving end of thier emense powers?
Is justice for sale? Is my compassion for others dependant on thier personal wealth. I find it much harder to feel for a rich person, than a poorer person. Even if the same crime is commited by or against them. Is my compassion conditional? Should I have compassion for all people in need? What would Jesus do?????
