Brokenness
Psalms 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.:20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
My memories of Christmas when I was a child most frequently include a trip to the mountains in Colorado where my parents had grown up and my grandparents lived. I remember going across South Park in the middle of the night with a full moon shining down on the snow-covered mountain ranges and countryside, creating an illuminating night time glow.
This past Christmas was an addition to these Colorado memories as I got to take my family to be with my parents in their new home there. After having lived in Oklahoma for a few years, Dad and Mom fulfilled their dream of waking up to a picturesque view of pine trees and mountain ranges out their bedroom and living room windows. They designed and built their own beautiful home just off the highway that descends into the park of my childhood memories. This was our first time to experience this new home with them, and it became a Christmas of note for many different reasons, one of which has brought some understanding to me of these few verses from Psalms.
When I say that my parents designed and built this new home of theirs, I’m not saying that they had a few ideas that they took to an architect that drew up plans for construction that they took to a contractor. No, they actually dreamed of the structure itself, (our previous Colorado Christmas they took us to the unbroken site and described where everything would be) drafted the blueprints, lived in a trailer on the site and did much of the construction themselves, while overseeing everything else. There wasn’t opportunity given for short cuts to be made as they took every measure to insure the quality of the structure, especially the foundation, insulation and tightness of joints and seams.
How this became apparent to me was that in this location where the nights are incredibly cold and the wind blows with ferocity, there was never a draft felt or a need to sit by a portable heater. They installed an in-floor water heating system, but it really didn’t get much use as their sealed and efficient fireplace produced enough heat to warm the whole house. Through nights and days of blowing snow and frigid temperatures we stayed more than comfortable in a refuge that was the result of their attention to detail and their insistence upon expending the necessary time, energy, and resources.
What I observed in getting to experience this home with them for a few days, was that there is a place of storm surviving refuge to be lived in and enjoyed for the ones that will do what is required to establish its foundation. Likewise, for those who would place their hope in the Lord, there is a promise of life that is full of breath-taking scenery, clear air, and endless revelations and discoveries. To survive in this place, however, there is a required foundation that begins with a broken heart before the Lord. As the other elements are constructed and placed above it, forming the walls and roof of a safe, enclosed structure, its stability will always be based upon the retention of its foundation- the broken heart. As the winds begin to blow and the elements are unbearable from all sides, the heart that has become close to Jesus through brokenness will not be compromised in its core, or its bones. While there may be a need to repair damaged roofing or siding, there is an assured safety for the eternal spirit within upon which everything is formed and given healing.
There are many memories to be formed and discoveries made in the land of the truly living. Survival is imminent and pleasure unavoidable in our place at the Father’s side, and the security of our place there will ever be in the complete awareness of just how great is this God of our worship and just how broken and contrite we must be before the magnitude of His power and majesty.
