Poetry Friday XII - Strong in the broken places
There is a famous quote by Ernest Hemmingway, which begins "The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places". The rest of the quote doesn't quite make sense to me, but that line I like. This year I have had the great blessing of meeting two people, both of whom are strong in the broken places. They stand out in their genuine concern for others and in the time they devote to caring for them, they hang around for the answer when they ask "how are you?" and they really listen. In getting to know them I have become aware of the stories of their own suffering. They have indeed been broken, and in their stories there is much to endure and much to forgive. They do both. And they use their stories as a means of ministry, not as a means of claiming sympathy and leave from blessing and giving to others (though I do say that with caution, because both of them are only too aware that the world breaks people, and are believers in the necessity of the healing life's wounds, and in helping people in that - so that they can go and do likewise).
I am sure we all know people like them - people who are imitators and the fragrance of Christ to others in their personal triumph over suffering and their faithfulness in it, people who make us feel that they are that much further along the road and closer to God than we are. So, it's not really a poem, but there is a new album by Sara Groves coming out soon, and on it is a song called I Saw What I Saw - and here it is, dedicated to all those people who are strong in the broken places (and it is perhaps inseparable from the music, and has perhaps taken my fancy because of the cello, so you can listen to a snippet here).
I Saw What I Saw
by Sara Groves
i saw what i saw and i can't forget it
i heard what i heard and i can't go back
i know what i know and i can't deny it
something on the road, cut me to the soul
your pain has changed me
your dream inspires
your faith a memory
your hope a fire
your courage asks me what i'm made of
and what i know of love
we've done what we've done and we can't erase it
we are what we are and it's more than enough
we have what we have but it's no substitution
something on the road, cut me to the soul
your pain has changed me
your dream inspires
your faith a memory
your hope a fire
your courage asks me what i'm made of
and what i know of love
i say what i say with no hesitation
i have what i have but i'm giving it up
i do what i do with deep conviction
something on the road, cut me to the soul
your pain has changed me
your dream inspires
your faith a memory
your hope a fire
your courage asks me what i'm made of
and what i know of love
your courage asks me what i’m afraid of
your courage asks me what i am made of
your courage asks me what i’m afraid of
and what i know of love
and what i know of God