It Not Broke!

My parents' youngest grandchild is my nephew Casey.  Just 3 months shy of his third birthday and with all of the other grandchildren ranging in ages from 12 - 20, he is the only small child in the family and he is definitely a bright spot in all of our lives.  Even though my son is 13, Casey always wants to see him when he comes to visit my parents.  He always has a great time with "Tutter."

A couple of weeks ago Casey came and spent the day with us.  My son pulled out some cars and trucks for him to play with.  Like most 3 year old little boys, he loves cars and trucks and will sit and play with them for hours.  Later during the day, I noticed him picking up each car and truck, shaking his head "no," and saying, "It not broke." 

Amused and confused at the same time, I just responded, "No Casey, it's not broken."  He repeated this over and over, with each car and truck.  I thought, "I'm going to buy that child some cars and trucks for Christmas.  All of his must be broken!"  I thought he was impressed with the fact that my son's collection wasn't full of missing wheels and broken parts. I didn't know how wrong I was!

Just last night Casey came back to visit us.  He immediately headed to my son's room, looking for the cars and trucks he had played with before.  And once again he would shake his head and say, "It not broke," as he held one in his hand.   At first I thought, "How funny! He's doing it again!  I've got to get that boy some new cars of his own."  Then it dawned on me.  These weren't just any cars and trucks he was playing with.  They were Transformers.  I watched as my son sat beside Casey on the porch and started to transform one of the vehicles.  He only got as far as the wheels when Casey said, "Don't broke it Tutter!" 

"Broke" to Casey meant the state of the car during the transformation process!!  My son has always been able to twist and turn and maneuver the cars and trucks with ease until they turn into whatever robot they are meant to be.  Casey has watched him do this before.  By saying, "It not broke," Casey was referring to the fact that the car wasn't in that transforming state; when it's no longer a car, but not yet a robot.  He viewed that state of change as the toy being "broke."  And I have to agree with him...in that in-between state, they do look like they've been broken! 

Aren't we the same way?  Don't we sometimes have to become "broken" before we allow God to transform us?  And although that in-between state is sometimes very ugly and we sometimes we may not look like much, isn't it a process we must go through?  A transformation state that must take place in order for us to reach the final product and become what we're supposed to be?  And can't you hear God saying, "You're not broken, I'm just not finished transforming you yet." 

Question of the day:  Have you undergone a transformation in your life?  Did you have to travel through a broken state to get there? 

Casey