Cracks in the Windshield

It appears to be the year for new windshields.  I must have a propensity for driving behind big trucks with stones that aim right for my Toyota.  It happened for the second time this year.  Safe Flight is now a favorite in my phone.  This last time, it was a pretty small crack, so we hoped the repair would be sufficient.  It didn't take long to see  the crack force itself further up my windshield.  As I write, Mr. Safe Flight is working hard to replace my windshield in my driveway.

Cracks appear everywhere.  Cracks in the sidewalk.  Cracks in a glass. Cracks in the ceiling. Cracks usually aren't a good thing.  Sometimes, we even have cracks in our heart.  A crack in the heart may hardly even be noticeable to most, but it's just like that small crack in the windshield.  It grows and grows and grows larger as time goes on...until it finally needs to be repaired.

How do cracks come into our life?  Sometimes, it's like the tiniest little rock that comes out of nowhere into our windshield.  We don't see it, feel it, or know it even happened.  Other times, it's more noticeable. The stone that you see coming and boom...the windshield shatters.  For our hearts, that might be a difficult season that was devestating.  A loss of some kind.  A painful relationship that seemingly has no resolve.  We tend to want to hide these cracks once we recognize they are bothersome.  We make light of them. Try to place them out of our mind.  Tell ourselves to get over it. Yet, somehow, they keep popping back to the surface of our mind...tempting us to either stuff or admit that something is wrong.

Sometimes, the last One we attempt to call upon is the one who can really fix our cracks.  It didn't take long to get Safe Flight on the phone, but it's just a bother to have to set it all up.  What about the cracks of our heart?  Honestly, when it comes to me, I often would rather put off dealing with my stuff...the cracks that rise up and remind me and others that I'm far from perfect.  It's easier to stuff our stuff, right?

God is all about putting back together pieces of our heart that are broken.  He created our hearts and knows them better than we know them ourselves.  He is THE healer.  He is the great engineer of the soul. He loves when we come to Him, admitting our brokenness.  He is a gentleman, who waits for us to seek Him.  He even says so in the Bible..."You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you.." declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 29:13-14)

As you start this day, spend some quiet time opening yourself up to God and the day before you. Consider the cracks that might be penetrating your heart.  Are you willing to deal with them?  Do you really want to be healed?  Open your heart and invite God to begin the process.  Don't keep watching the crack grow..... remember, it just keeps getting bigger.

"Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect.  It is this fragile thread that binds us together." Brian G. Dyson

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.