Broken but not crushed (bones)
Sticks and stones, and motorcycles and horses and wrestling moves and hard collisions do all break bones, but words break more.
Some of our best, brightest, strongest have been physically hurt recently. I am proud they did it expressing themselves without fear- in doing what they love. God makes some of us so excited to physically move fast, be aggressive, compete well that we must suffer great pain before we slow down. For those called to live this way. Say your prayers and do it all again, and as soon as you can. In sports there is risk, but take it unless you feel you are being unwise. Know your body. And when you get hurt, don’t stop performing because of fear. You must perform again until you know it isn’t because of fear that you don’t want to do it again. People get hurt without doing what they love all the time- do what you love. And when you come back from pain you can be better than ever because of the struggle to regain your footing in sport, and because of the built up hunger that has always driven you.
I’ve been hurt physically many times- concussions, fractures, breaks, sprains, pulls, tears, heat stroke, dehydration, cuts, scrapes, burns, etc.- and will again. It’s cool, no problem. Take the rest, work on another area of your life (something pleasing to God), heal up, and have more success in the future.
Nothing I’ve written is new to anyone that likes sport, but there is a similar teaching we all probably need to hear again. The Spiritual life is like a flower more than a bone. They have occasions of bloom and beauty. And the memory of those moments (for humans/ animals) does much to determine how they always feel. A flower can be covered up for a few days and when it gets sunlight again the growth often never again reaches full speed. It was not just hurt, it was hindered and hindered doesn’t always make you stronger- it makes you go slower. When a flower, even a tough one, doesn’t get water it grows hard and tough- losing it’s color and appeal.
When I deal with the youth on the playground, we really play. But in the classroom or with emotions and with their Spirit they need gentleness because every pain, every insult, every lack of care will affect more of life than we can imagine. And in the business of doing God’s kind of stuff, it isn’t cool hindering other’s growth- especially in the spiritual matters.
Since we are all called to do God’s stuff. Make sure you are treating others with the care they deserve. I often fail in this, and (especially to adults) treat them how they treat others. I have a mirroring personality that way. But I never forget, even if it isn’t noticeable, how I am called to treat everyone. Others deserve your gentle love, so they can bloom when God wills, so they can grow without a glass ceiling, so they can prosper despite a difficult world, so they can be free to experience God how HE desires they know him. blessings