Fixed!
When was the last time you broke something? I broke a glass a few months ago reaching for something else in a cabinet, but I do not find that I break things often, and yet… things wear out or stop working over a period of time even if you are gentle with them. And many things can be fixed. Not that glass though- it was a goner the moment it hit the counter. But so many other things can be repaired.
This all came to mind for me this week as I spent an exciting evening listening to a podcast and fixing a pair of sweatpants. It was so reminiscent of people sitting in front of the radio and working on little handicrafts after sunset. And I fixed them. The long since dead elastic has been replaced and I neatly stitched up the holes I put into the waistband to access the elastic. I am very proud of myself for doing this. It lives into my goals of being sustainable where I can, not just buying new because something needs repaired, and being more economical in general. Fixing these sweatpants- actually fixing them and not just adding them to the “to be repaired” pile, was somewhat a big deal for me. I fixed it all by myself (okay, maybe a little help from a Wikihow page about how to do the ladder stitch). A step forward in being a responsible adult.
I say this because the other thing that broke around me recently was the visor in my car. Over time, the screws had wiggled out and it was now at a point where attempting to use the visor as a visor made it more of a visual hazard than a help. It would drop into my field of vision and could not be used as intended. And rather than fixing it, I asked my dad to do it. I literally just needed a spare screw and a screwdriver, but it was easier to ask for the help. Although this was something I could fix for myself, I asked for help. And that’s true of a lot of repairs in our lives. Some people know how to do things like change spark plugs, rewire a ceiling fan, and roof a house, but most of us will hire someone to do it for us because they are experts in the field. Or at least more knowledgeable than we are.
And some things cannot be repaired. That glass that shattered being a prime example, but if you have ever seen a totaled car, it makes sense that the time and effort required to repair such a thing would not be worth the effort in most circumstances. But all of this repair has to do with physical objects. And physical objects do play a role in how we approach life theologically. These physical things that help us reduce, reuse, and recycle or otherwise attempt to be good stewards are worth our time and effort.
The truth about fixing things is that there are all sorts of sub-categories when you think about types of repairs. Generally speaking and in a very broad sense, I find there to be three sets of three. Physical, spiritual, and relational. Able to fix myself, able to be fixed by another person, only God can fix. Worth fixing, uncertain worth in fixing, and definitely not worth fixing. And with the exception of spiritual repairs, which require the power of the Holy Spirit and cannot be repaired by human efforts, categorizing repairs is just a mindset and attitude exercise. It is our attitude about fixing things that so often indicates if it will or will not be repaired. And there is always hope of repair.
Even in a situation that seems older than civilazation and without hope of repair. Who would think that an article that starts with a broken glass and repaired sweatpants would actually end up being about geo-political unrest and peace in the Middle East? In the weeks to come, I hope you will join me in praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ who live in Palestine or work in Israel. And for those in Russia and Ukraine who are still suffering. Or for those in Mexico who are victims of criminal violence and oppression. Or the unrest in Haiti. Or any number of other conflicts (you can learn more about global conflicts here.) You see, physical things can usually be repaired. Spiritual things can be repaired with God’s help. But relationships that are broken, those require God’s help too. And in this case I do not think it is my role to fix these conflicts, but I can definitely ask God to do so, seek ways to be in support of those who are hurt by injustice or hurt, and look around my own space and see what relationships are sitting on the “to be repaired” pile and do something about them. Because how wonderful is it to look at something that was broken and know that what was broken can now be described as fixed.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6 NRSVUE)
