Broken Zippers

This backpack. Wow, what it has seen. I bought it in 1997 to use on my first mission trip with young people.  We went to Juarez, Mexico. Filled with health forms, first aid kit, and necessary items for the trip, I remember clutching it tightly when our bus crossed the border into a world that was new to me. For 18 years it accompanied me and my youth on over 20 journeys . It had held up except for the main zipper had broken, causing that section to come open on its own. I threw it in my closet for memory sake. 

At that same time, I also hung up my mission trip work with church youth as I allowed a pastor to spiritually destroy me. In the last 4 years, I worked on ME. I believe everything happens for a reason and me stepping away from the structure of a church gave me the space to work on me through my faith. God had a plan. He always has a plan. I worked on myself physically (losing 40 pounds), I worked on my marriage. Not volunteering also allowed me to work on my career and discover my inner strength.

I was eager to go on this trip to Costa Rica and pulled out the backpack. I tried it out. Last thing I wanted was the zipper to fall open. The zipper isn’t broke any more. Read it again. The zipper isn’t broke anymore. Sure the zipper pull thingy is still broke, but the zipper holds up. It’s on a new adventure at my side. I once read a meme that stated even the broken crayons in a box can create beautiful masterpieces.

Take the broken pieces in your life to recreate what you need to. The masterpieces may look different than you had planned but will be beautiful.

I thank the youth that navigate my journeys with me. From the first mission trip, exploring the Boundary Waters without a guide, to new adventures I’m currently setting up.