Becoming the Answer

I just finished reading a book by Shane Claiborne & Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove called, "Becoming the Answer to Our Prayers." Here is the excerpt that I am pondering:

"One thing we have learned from conservative Christian believers and from progressive social activists is that community can be built around a common self-righteousness or around a common brokenness. Both are magnetic and contagious. People are drawn toward folks who have it all together (or have figured out how to look like they do). People are also drawn toward folks who know they don't have it all together and are not willing to fake it. Christianity can be built around isolating ourselves from evildoers and sinners, creating a community of religious super-piety. Christianity can also be built around joining with the broken sinners and evildoers of our world crying out to God, groaning for grace. That's the Christianity we have fallen in love with (p. 47)"

There are times I want to hide my brokenness. Why do I do that? It's like a little kid who plays peek a boo by covering his face with his hands, thinking the other person can't see him. The reality is that I know I'm broken. I know we're all broken. I'm dreaming of a community where we don't hide our brokenness and we don't hold our brokenness against each other. Rather we each learn to face up to our brokenness, lay it at the foot of the cross and teach others to do the same. The silhouette of my brokenness against the backdrop of what Jesus has done for me is more beautiful than a sunset off Mallory Square.