Friday night I was rushing to pack for my trip down to Malacca in conjunction with Chris and Audrey’s wedding and in my haste I accidentally dropped two bottles of car fresheners on the floor. One broke and one didn’t.
Within seconds my entire room was filled with the thick scent of Ambi Pur’s Vanilla Bouquet.
And I thought to myself as I was picking up the pieces and choking on the fumes, “Jor God, why didn’t you save both my perfume bottles -.- ?”
The answer came two days later as Shirley Boon took to the pulpit.
Being broken is not something people generally take pride in sharing with others. This is of course excusing the emoes.
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
You, God, will not despisePsalms 51
Why is a broken spirit and contrite heart here more attractive to God than sacrifice?
The word contrite here means to be crushed into powder.
You can’t un-grind pepper. Or un-crush an orange smoothie. Once my perfume bottle was broken it can’t be salvaged! I can’t scoop up the perfume off the floor. Why does He desire something that cannot be un-done?
Why broken?
Unless you’re broken, you cannot experience spiritual revival.
Shirley Boon
A horse that is not broken is unfit to be ridden on.
A shoe that is not broken into brings only discomfort to it’s patron.
Unless I’m broken, I cannot be useful to my maker.
As vulnerable beings, we are subject to circumstances, crappy relationships, insufferable authorities and failures. Then the result of brokenness becomes a choice for me. Who do I allow to see and deal with the brokenness?
God creates out of nothing, therefore, until a man is nothing, God can make nothing out of him.
Martin Luther
Food for thought: I often wallow how 2013 was the year that broke me. Broke my spirit, broke my heart, broke my will. If I claim to be broken, what fragrance am I emitting? What do other people smell?
Inspired by Shirley Boon
On a side note: GREENSCREEN’S NEXT VIDEO IS OUT!
Special thanks to Chris, Audrey, Sek Kit and David for all your help.
Thinking of: The time is now and meet up with old friends 🙂
