Break Down

Sometimes it's easier to destroy something completely and start over than it is to fix the damage done.

Ever watch the show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"?  I know, it's a little 5 years ago.  The point is still valid.  For those who have been deprived of this sob-inducing goodness, the premise of the show is that the staff find a family in desperate need of a help in fixing their home.  The first episodes usually involved fixing the bones of an older or worn down home, and typically building an addition to help the family.  The more recent episodes rarely salvage much from the primary structure, because it's much easier to start from scratch than to work around what's falling apart.  Makes perfect sense.

Sunday at church Pastor Danny was speaking out of Haggai, which is a book I honestly have never had the desire to read.  When I try to read through the OT chronologically, I get discouraged by the Kings.  I've always known Haggai was there but it's never been high on my priority reading list.  God scolds the Israelites for being stupid yet again.  Hmmm...  In order to understand what's going on in Haggai, you have to understand the story of the Israelites.  You know -- the one where God had this sweet plan of incredible promise, and the people managed to screw it up because they thought they knew better.  Funny.  I seem to know that story well.  Too well, really.  It's my story too.

Luckily for the Israelites and for me, God is good.  He doesn't flake out just because the going gets tough.  That doesn't mean that He'll let us keep floundering in our mistakes or in the consequences they bring.  Sometimes it means He has to break down what we've put up.  Sometimes it means He has to break down what He's put up.  Either way, it's so He can rebuild well.  Maybe it's a friendship.  Maybe it's a relationship.  Maybe it's a hope, a dream or a passion.  Or maybe it's an entire being.

Either way, I'm ready to be broken.