All The King's Horses & All The King's Men

You don't have to look far to observe a lot of brokenness. In fact, it's all around us: in the world, our local communities, our families, and (perhaps most significantly) in ourselves. Psychologists talk about much brokenness coming from one's family of origin and the Bible agrees: "punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments" (Ex 20: 5-6).

That sounds pretty harsh, but I think it's just common sense. There are definite patterns of behavior that are passed on from generation to generation whether you're talking addictions or dysfunction of other sorts. Children see or hear their grandparents or parents behaving in certain ways and those behaviors seem normal. In some cases (like addictions) genetic predispositions come into play as well.

The result is that brokenness is unavoidable. All of us are victims and perpetrators. Victims because... well because we're humans born into families. Perpetrators because to greater or lesser degrees - as we choose - we live into brokenness rather than wholeness. Remember that God not only promised that children would be punished for the sins of their fathers for three or four generations, but also blessed down to a thousand generations for those who love Him and keep His commandments.

Leaving brokenness behind and moving toward wholeness is a choice - a decision. Many prefer brokenness. It provides an excuse to fail, to mistreat one's self or others, and does not require the hard work of moving toward freedom.

We're all Humpty Dumpty. And although all the king's horses and all the king's men can't put us back together again, the King both can and will. We simply have to ask Him to - and then do whatever is necessary to leave behind our fears, compulsions, sins, etc. It's a long and arduous journey, but one that leads to wholeness, peace, restoration, and glory - yes glory - as we become the people we were always intended to be.