The Cyber Kazbá

I heard on Christian radio an artist singing that he wants brokenness. Upon first reflection, most (self included) think that such a statement is not only a correct statement of spirituality but also pious. But is brokenness something I (or we) truly desire or even should desire? For it seems that brokenness is the antithesis of the object of our desire. Brokenness is an event that occurs to us against our will, it’s when we come to the end of ourselves in glorious defeat. Brokenness breaks our desires and re-directs them. Furthermore, so much of brokenness is not necessarily this one event, but rather the journey there. The more arduous the journey the more dramatic and the deeper our brokenness will be. But if we spend the entire journey with a “desire” for brokenness how will we ever be broken? The journey of brokenness is not one that is, or should be sought after; rather it seems that brokenness finds us. It reaches down and pummels us in ways we never wanted; it surprises us, and invades us at the worst times; it is never convenient, nor is it enjoyable. If one does not experience anguish, self defeat, humiliation, and utter helplessness, has one truly been broken? How can we genuinely have a desire for such experiences? It seems that is impossible to break oneself, that brokenness comes from the outside; and a desire for such an experience would only prolong its arrival.

Now I understand that the aftermath of brokenness is usually blissful (in the end); and maybe that is what we are truly desiring when we say we desire to be broken. But how does one go about seeking genuine brokenness? Especially when one encounters passages in scripture where God demands brokenness form his people (cf. Joel 2:12-13). Maybe my lack of insight into such endeavors are from my deficient amount of experience with brokenness. What are your experiences with brokenness?

# posted by Velmer @ 11:11 PM