Broken Umbrella

It was pouring outside. She had an important meeting at the capitol and wished to present herself in the most appropriate fashion. The time was drawing near and the rain was still unrelenting. She spent so much time making herself look wonderful. She straightened her hair, perfected her makeup, she had on new clothes—all to impress the members of the Legislature. Her heart sank as she imagined what she’d look like before her peers. A soaking wet mess. She couldn’t find an umbrella. She gave one to a homeless man a year ago when he asked for a ride when it was raining. Not feeling comfortable transporting a stranger she offered what she had-- her umbrella. She had another but it had turned inside out on her one too many times. She didn’t even know what she had done with it.

Perplexed and worried about being late, she pulled her hair under a newsboy cap and walked outside into the rain. She could drive her car a great distance but would have to walk 3 or 4 blocks in the rain. She sat her purse in the back, on the floor. She remembered something was under the seat. Her broken umbrella! She was saved. The umbrella was blue and had polka dots on it. It was not the most professional looking of all umbrellas but served the purpose just as well.

It was still broken and wouldn’t last much longer. However, she needed it only for a few minutes to cover her as she walked to her destination. The sidewalks were sparsely populated but the streets were bustling with cars, busses, and various forms of transportation. She walked carefully; she didn’t want to soak her legs in puddles of murky water. She got her heel stuck in one of the grates on the walkway but laughed as it pulled her back as if to say “slow down.” Her umbrella held up under the pounding rain. She felt safe from it.

She attended her meeting and exited back into the rain. As she was walking back the wind caught the umbrella once again and it turned out on her. The rain came pouring in from all directions. In an effort to fix the umbrella she stepped into a puddle. In less than a few seconds her hair became drenched, her face soaked. Her new clothes were clinging closely to her skin and she dropped the umbrella in defeat.

The rain continued to pour but then she realized it was only rain. She stood motionless. Suddenly it didn’t matter that she was drenched. She remembered how desperately she fought to keep the rain off of her but now it wasn’t so bad. It was actually kind of refreshing. No one was on the sidewalk—just her and the rain.

Her thoughts turned to God. He was the creator of this rain. What was he telling her? She looked at the broken umbrella on the ground. She held onto her broken umbrella for so long as the rain tried to cover her. She longed to stay dry and perfect looking. The rain would ruin her appearance—the appearance she worked so hard to perfect. Now she stood ruined. Her hair soaked, the makeup diminished. The rain washed it all away. She stood ruined before God and all it took was just a little brokenness. God broke through the barrier and washed away all the coverings. She didn’t need to look perfect. He knew she wasn’t.

She thought to herself, “How many times have I tried to hide under my brokenness from God? I put up a front and make myself over hoping no one will really see what’s underneath. Still He finds me and it takes only a moment to be drenched by his love and righteousness.” As she continues standing she is consumed by his Holy Spirit and when there isn’t a spot left on her the rain bounces onto dry surfaces. If it’s not soaked up by the surface then it puddles and waits to envelope the next unsuspecting recipient.

Who will be covered, even drenched, by God, next? Will they allow it? Instead of girding their waist with truth, will they wrap themselves in a towel of lies? Will they wear the raincoat of wickedness and galoshes of chaos? That rain cap they try to cover their heads with would that be the cap of captivity where the helmet of salvation should be? How about that big broken umbrella that everyone has? Instead of the shield faith have we made it into a shield of distrust?

Instead of guarding ourselves from His downpour why don’t we just accept it? God’s mercy is abundant and can flow into even the tightest cracks and crevices. I was ruined in His presence. All it took was a little brokenness.