Living Within the Brokenness

As a Westerner it's my tendency to want to fix what's broken - things, situations... even people. As a Christian I was taught how to "fix" people - quote Romans 8:28, give them godly advice and send them on their way with a quick "I'll be praying for you!" Many times, however, that only leaves people more broken.

I hope I've changed. I hope I'm still changing, because here's what I've discovered so far:

To enter into someone's pain - without fixing it, without advising, and above all without judging - is to share the journey as a fellow traveler, as an equal. To be trusted with someone's deep (and sometimes dark) secrets is to have the honour of holding their heart in your hands. It is a holy moment. And to cry with someone and ache for them as much as they ache for themselves is sometimes the most Christ-like thing you can do.

Love doesn't always need words.