My favorite coffee mug is one with the handle broken off. I have had it for years having bought it during a visit to Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park. It is white and green, and the green handle broke off when I dropped it. I bought a replacement during a visit to Estes. Yet I still like my broken mug.

I was using my old mug the other day and I thought about broken things. In today’s throwaway society we do not often fix broken things. It is too easy to replace things. In fact, often it is too expensive to repair many items.

This chain of though led me to my installation service as the Associate Pastor of Atonement. Rev Roy was part of the service, and he had an old broken lamp on display. Now I say broken, the glass globe was broken, but it still worked. And the repairs put most of the pieces back in place. But the light shined through the cracks along with glowing through the glass.

We are like that globe.

Life tends to break us down. We crack and creak. We hurt. Life wears on us. We suffer physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Sometimes it feels like we cannot take it anymore. And sadly, some people give up and take their life. Suicide is a major issue on the reservation. Teens and young adults will take their own lives out of despair. I know of one family that lost a 12 year-old because there was not enough food.

We are all broken. We are all in need of healing. I know that I do.

Whatever your issue is remember that it is okay to be broken. Get whatever help you need. See a doctor, see a counselor. Take time for yourself. Self-care is important. Do not be embarrassed to ask for help. We all need help sometimes. Help will let you be put back together. Perhaps you will still have the cracks in your shell. But cracks, like scars, can be a badge of honor. They show growth and healing.

God is with you in the healing. God loves you and so do I.