I broke a picture frame this morning as I was trying to update some old photos. I was proud I didn't scream or curse. (But I know it would be okay if I did). As I carefully swept up the glass shards, it was easiest to use the old photos to gently scrape the tiniest, shining pieces of glass that basically looked like glitter. Odd how something so beautiful can cause so much pain and even fear of pain. I found myself gasping at the irony of staring at the smiling faces of loved ones when so much has changed in our lives and in the world since I first decided these particular moments were "frame-worthy." Of course the large pieces of broken glass had interesting, artful shapes - not quite triangle - not quite quadrangles - unique each to how the pressure of the fall to the ground broke their hold onto the frame. I laughed out loud even as I felt a rush of warmth to my cheeks and eyes, a moment of tears that seemed a bit of an overreaction to a broken, inexpensive, picture frame. I wished I had a therapist or maybe a poet there with me to make some sense of the intense feelings, there kneeling on the floor, trying not to accidentally cut myself, and worried that I might be leaving glass shards behind that might hurt someone else. Thankfully, Pastor Mark was around and he listened to me ramble to make meaning out of a silly Monday foible. (And now you, loyal Kids @ Glenn or Glenn blog reader, are stuck with this reflection, too!)
As the tears and gasps and curses and surprising - and not so surprising - emotions have come in waves over the past few weeks as national headlines have very real consequences in each of our lives, I have been proud that I haven't screamed or cursed within my children's earshot. (But I know it would be okay if I did). As we all proverbially sweep up the broken glass of shattered hopes, dreams, and trust in institutions, we might just find ourselves gasping at the irony of staring at the smiling faces of loved ones when so much has changed in our lives and in the world since fill-in-the-blank of personal, community, national, or world events. Of course the large pieces of proverbial broken glass - our lives and relationships - have interesting, artful shapes - unique each to how the pressure of the falls from hopes/dreams/trusts break our hold from one another. But what I hope and pray is that through this summer of 2022, where the world, our families, our church, and our schools look different than we have ever known, there will be the continued assurance that together we can carefully sweep up the broken pieces, avoiding cuts and hurts as much as we can, and that the smiles of the loved ones looking back at us will return. Together, we can make frame-worthy memories again, even if not ever picture perfect. That's what the stories of the Scriptures remind me - and why I am committed to teaching them over and over again to young and old alike. Because the faith we learn and discover in the Old and New Testaments is the faith I can encounter on my knees sweeping up glass shards on a Monday morning when so much in the world seems out of my control. (I know I don't have to look far in this particular faith community, Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church, to find pastors and friends to share the journey...including the screams, curses, cries, sweeping up the messes, binding up the wounds when we are hurt, AND capturing more moments for frame-worthy photos).
Grace and Peace,
Susan