Being Broken

I doubt there are any of you who read this blog who do not know what it is to be broken: broken-hearted, broken in body, broken by a terrible tragedy affecting you and those you love.

In today's reading from the 22nd chapter of the Tao Te Ching, the startling claim is made that in order to be whole, we must be broken.

The reading ends with the question: Is this mistaken?

See what you think about this after you read these words, written some time around the fifth century B.C. give or take.....

In order to be whole, you must be broken.

In order to be straight, you must be twisted.

In order to be full, you must be empty.

In order to be renewed, you must be worn out.

In order to gain much, you must have little.

In order to understand, you must be confused.

Wise people understand the unity of all things,

and know that unity consists in diversity.

In order to be well known, you must never pursue fame.

In order to be above suspicion, you must never justify yourself.

In order to be honored, you must never seek praise.

In order to win, you must never compete.

Wise people in the past frequently said:

In order to be whole, you must be broken.

Were they mistaken?

Or is it true that those who are broken are most likely to flourish?

My response:

These sayings certainly go against the grain of my conditioning as a Westerner and American!

What would happen to our life style without competition? Isn't winning everything?

Someone I knew well once said "If you don't blow your own horn, no one else will!"

Doesn't diversity cause division?

Isn't it better to have more?

On the other hand, these are hopeful sayings.

Having been broken, it is good to know that I can be whole.

Having been confused, it is good to know that I can understand.

Having been worn out many a time, it is good to know that I can be renewed.

I do get that if I don't empty myself of my knowledge and opinions at times,

there is no emptiness into which new knowledge and wisdom can be poured.

No wonder I and others feel there is something foolish about being a "know-it-all!"

And what a relief, to feel it is alright not to compete, or pursue fame,

or justify myself, or seek approval or praise,

or struggle to have more and more of whatever it might be.

That feels like really going with the flow.

The Tao just might be the Way to go!