Tikkun Olam

 “The world expects me to be shiny.  I mean that’s what they want to see – great smile, good looking, dressed in the latest style, put together, and got it together.  But, sometimes I pass by the mirror and see some things I don’t like.  Sometimes I can’t even look at myself.  One time I didn’t recognize the guy looking back at me – so messed up, broken relationships, bad choices.  I don’t like what I see!”

Something is in his hand.  As he raises it above his head I see white knuckles gripping a hammer.  As it falls and smashes the mirror on a nearby table I feel the pieces of my brokenness fall to the ground around my feet like the shards of glass.  I see myself in the fractured reflection now surrounding us.  I don’t like what I see either.  
 “I just want to put the mistakes, the ugliness, and the brokenness back together.  But it’s a mess!  Maybe it can’t be done.  Maybe it’s too much.”

A kind soul picks up the glass so we won’t get hurt.

He goes on, “I know the broken pieces aren’t pretty.  Sorry you have to see my stuff all laid out there.”

I am increasingly uncomfortable as I realize I am less disturbed by his mess than I am by the stuff that has unexpectedly welled up within me.  I find myself in this vulnerable place and I just want to get up, stuff all the pieces of me that seem to be conspicuously out there for all to see, and run to the nearest door to escape to the shiny world.

As we talk, he tells me that G-d loves us in spite of our brokenness.  It sounds trite but I want to believe it.  He says G-d loves me unconditionally, no matter how much I’ve screwed up.  Could he love me even though I deeply hurt someone…even though I’ve been promiscuous…even though I’ve cheated others and myself…even though I’ve said words that cut deeply…even though I’ve done the unspeakable?

He tells me that G-d puts the broken pieces together and creates something new from it.  As he says this, the kind soul appears again handing him something.  He turns to show me.  It’s beautiful.  A sparkling mosaic cross.  Each piece of glass carefully placed to create a unique work of art.  I get it.  That’s what he means.  G-d picks up the mess of stuff and begins to morph it into something new and unexpected and beautiful.

I close my eyes and let the pieces of my brokenness fall away again, this time with a sigh of relief.  I listen for the crash at my feet, but nothing.  I open my eyes to realize that G-d has picked up every shard and is carefully restoring all my broken pieces.  He is making all things new.

Tikkun Olam is Hebrew for “repairing the world”.  G-d is in the business of tikkun olam, restoring all the broken pieces.  He is reaching out through his people, touching, healing, loving people to restoration one day and one life at a time.  We are a community seeking to be part of G-d’s healing hand.