brokenness

today i was reminded again of the brokenness of the world. And the sad reality that none of us are the people that we should be - that we don't listen well, that we don't care about others well, that we speak when we shouldn't and don't when we should, and even as much as we do wish to love our neighbour as ourselves, we can too easily talk/think ourselves out of acting that love out.

and so i cried for awhile. and then a friend stopped by to borrow something. and the world didn't stop being any less messed up, but my perspective changed. a caring hug, a listening ear, and random laughter reminded me that as much as the world is broken, God is not any less concerned with and working in it. so even if the sadness lingers for awhile, i rest in the comfort of God's love (his hesed).

and the brokenness and hesed were intermingled elsewhere today as a professor went out of his way to introduce me to someone visiting from the Netherlands. who just so happens to know the director of Oudezijds 100! (i think, God, i'm getting the point about Your hand in my going there). and his words to me contained both a reassurance and a warning. i am moving to a place where this a lot of brokenness. but i am also being allowed to join a community that is working hard to practice God's love to others in reaching out to that brokenness.

and as i acknowledge all of this brokenness, i pray for grace both to remember God's love and to act it out in my own life.