THE EARTH IS BROKE! NOW WHAT?

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The day after devastating earthquake and aftershocks struck Haiti, the situation still shrouded in uncertainty and confusion, everyone sees vividly the reality of the world’s brokenness.  Literally, the earth broke and everything connected to it was upset.  And the upset was catastrophic.  In the devastation the need for rescue, relief, and help appears obvious.  You will hear much more over coming days and learn about how you can be part of the rescue and relief effort.  Please, let's respond as we would if our own family members are in peril.  (Of course, it is a FAMILY concern!)

This incredibly sad situation reminds us all, no matter how far we live from the epicenter of yesterday’s episode in the ongoing brokenness drama, that it’s all about brokenness and wholeness, emptiness and fullness.  Who isn’t broken and in need of wholeness?  Who isn’t empty in need of long term fullness?   The earth is broken. All that sits on it or in it is therefore broken, including people.   People are broken because they can only live in places that are broken.  But people are also broken because in their brokenness they seek to patch together whatever they can, at whatever the cost.  Usually the cost is at the expense of others who also are broken.  TSo, the brokenness compounds. 

The good news is that the only One completely whole, who alone could be the source of wholeness and fullness, became broken for us.  He got broke so we could be mended.  He got broke so all the fragments—of our lives and that of others, as well as the broken places where we spend our time—could find their place in relation to each other.   He got broke to make us whole on the inside and the outside, all around and in between.

I do not know how it works, but I know the story that reports that it does in fact work.  I do not know how, but I join with some others who have lived a portion of that very story.  As the story goes, Jesus took bread, thanked His Father, broke it and gave it away.  Later he quite literally experienced brokenness of body on behalf of all people.  And in that brokenness and giving there is a coming together of the pieces, an integrated renewal, and beautiful kind of wholeness on display for other broken folks to consider.

The earth remains broken.  But there is hope—relief, rescue, renewal, and revitalization are on the way!  Among the people who know and live this story there is sadness mixed with joy in joining the One who brings wholeness wherever he goes.

Published by David Kendall

Reverend David W. Kendall, an ordained elder in the Great Plains Conference, was elected to the office of bishop of the Free Methodist Church in May 2005. He serves as overseer of East Michigan, Gateway, Great Plains, Mid-America, North Central, North Michigan, Ohio, Southern Michigan, Wabash, African Area Annual Conferences; and Coordinator of oversight for the World Ministries Center.

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    old people will tell you whatever the earth is is probably caused by nuclear accidents not cleaned up and under the sea.
    We the regular citizen didn’t break it…what about the HAARP toy …are they playing with it?

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