Blessed to be Broken

I recently watched an episode of Abbott Elementary. In a surprising twist of fate, the principal of the school got fired due to breaking the rules and accepting bribes.

The teachers of the school were equally guilty of accepting bribes, but the principal stepped up and accepted full responsibility and consequences. She never thought she’d be fired.

Yet, she stood by her confession and packed up her belongings and headed into an unknown future.

Her faculty felt horrible. They moved forward in their day to day duties, but feeling responsible, they sought redemption for her.

What they found instead, was the ex-principal bounced back rather quickly. In fact, they walked into her having being the motivational speaker at a local seminar.

Cue Alicia Keys singing, “This girl is on fire.” As the ex-principal danced her way to the stage, she looked out to the audience and declared, “Lost people your compass is here.”

I let out a big ol’ laugh. I repeated out loud, “Lost people, your compass is here.”

And they applauded her energy and vibe.

Her faculty stood amongst the lost, yet hungry audience. Disbelief clearly displayed on their faces as they realized, their beloved principal didn’t seem to need their help.

In fact, she never once asked them to help her get her job back.

But, let’s get back to the ex-principal’s opening statement. “Lost people, your compass is here.”

What did the audience truly know about our ex-principal? Her morals? Her character?

On the outside, they saw a vivacious woman, full of energy and personality. Someone who walked up on that stage with confidence and sensationalism.

Yet, she’d just been fired for her lack of moral compass. Not a judgement, a matter of fact. And she was now touting the fact, that she was a compass to lost people.

And the audience was eating it up like ice cream on a hot summer day.

Earlier, I said I laughed when I heard her tag line. I laughed because her character on the show is totally audacious. It wasn’t a ha-ha laugh.

It was more of a disbelief and who says that kind of thing type of laugh. And, if I’m being honest, it was a GREAT line. Almost brilliant.

Seriously, how do you follow up that tag line and prove to these lost people, you’re their compass?

Hyperbole. A lot of hyperbole. By the way, that word is not pronounced, hyper bole. It’s pronounced, hi-per-bol-e. Because, I used to say, the former. HA!

People love a good motivational speaker. They’re drawn to them like bees to honey.

Do you really know who the motivational speaker truly is or why they were able to speak something that resonated within you?

Most likely it was because there’s an unfilled void in your being and they said something that’s been gnawing at your heart leaving you feeling, less than.

Consider for a moment, that maybe, just maybe, you’ve been caught in a hyperbole trap.

It’s not hard to figure out what people need these days. It lays bare on social media on the daily.

So, how do you prey on people’s “less than” emotions? You tell them what they so desperately want to hear.

Yet, you know absolutely nothing of that speaker’s background, heart, moral compass, or what their bottom dollar is.

They just sound good.

So, we place our trust in the latest, and greatest “it” factor. Not only that, we take what they say as gospel and we spread it around like wildfire because we feel good…for the moment.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t guilty of misplacing my trust, my money, my thoughts, and even my hope from lack of discernment and wanting an easy fix to fill the void.

When the hyperbole falls away, what then?

We look to the next bright and shiny, feel good thing.

No wonder we “feel” lost. And no wonder we look to others as our compass.

Flawed humans just like us who maybe found that certain je ne sais quoi and marketed it for their eventual good and glory are a dime a dozen.

Is that really who you want as your compass?

What if I told you there’s an actual true North for your compass?

Morally sound. Can’t lie. No hyperbole needed. No flashy lights. No catch phrases. No pump you up music required. No fog machines in sight.

This true North invites you into peace and calm. He doesn’t want to talk at you. He wants to sit quietly alongside you, and talk WITH you.

One who pursues you with beauty and love over the almighty dollar.

Would you want that? It’s your choice after all, who you choose to be your compass.

But, let’s look at what a shepard boy who became King wrote about this/his true North.

King David ruled over Israel back in the day. Like back in the BC days. Means a long, long time ago.

He’s probably more famous for his defeat of a Philistine named Goliath. A rock and a slingshot were his death tools of choice. But, it was his belief in God that had him RUN into that battle while everyone else was cowering behind rocks.

He wrote many chapters in the book of Psalms. That’s the Bible. In case you didn’t know.

King David knew God intimately. Read his storyline in the Bible and you’ll find yourself on an emotional rollercoaster. Why? Because he was a flawed human.

And all the flawed human raised their hands in solidarity.

Back to the Psalm I’d like to share here as to why you can trust this one and only true North. But, before we dig into it, ask God to silence the noise in your brain and being, and take a deep breath or five.

Psalm 23, the Message version says:

“God, my shepherd!
I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
you find me quiet pools to drink from.

True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.

Even when the way goes through
Death Valley, I’m not afraid
when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
makes me feel secure.

You serve me a six-course dinner
right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
my cup brims with blessing.

Your beauty and love chase after me
every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
for the rest of my life.”

Take all the time you need here. You don’t ever have to rush through God’s holy word.

Written long ago, these verses are still true. Means they’re not a flash in the pan, filled with hyperbole, words meant to make you feel good just in the minute.

Although they can totally do that, they’re meant to become a part of who you are.

They’re meant for us to know God just as intimately if not more so, than King David.

In order to do that, you have to spend time with God. Ask Him questions. He’s always up for a conversation.

You don’t have to buy a special VIP backstage ticket package or sit in uncomfortable chairs to meet with Him.

He’s literally available 24/7.

Obviously, no one can make you spend time with God. You have to want that for yourself. After all, if it’s not personal, then what’s the point of a relationship?

I guess what my point is, you can get all the self-help books, watch or listen to all the trendiest, on pointe, motivational speakers, plaster all the hip quotes and dreams on vision boards, but none of those things can speak into your soul like God can.

I’m talking getting into all the nooks and crannies of your being, and seeks to make you more like Jesus Christ, not a replica of another flawed human being kind of speaking.

Again, you have to choose this. It’s not a forced or even coerced relationship.

It’s a one on one desire to get to know the Creator of the heavens and earth, so you can understand why on His green earth, He’d even want a relationship with someone like me…or you.

All I know is, when my personal compass was pointed at people as my north, the compass was a jittery mess, changing with the daily shifting trends.

I found myself “lost” more times than I can count.

But then, just like the song says, Amazing Grace, saved a wretch like me, and once (ok, so many times) I was lost, but now, I’m found. I was “blind” but now I see.

No one can experience that for you. However, I have every faith that when you experience it, you’ll know it!

Don’t settle for imitations. Your compass is indeed here, and it will always lead you straight to The Way, The Truth, and The Life. But don’t take may word for it.

John 14:6 says all you need!

Friends, don’t fall for the hyperbole. Fall into the Truth!