Broken Windows

Dave Brisbin | 6.24.18 In times of difficult life transitions, when the uncertainty factor is blowing the top off the thermometer, questions of how to proceed become really urgent. But coupling these transitions and the seemingly risky decisions that come along for the ride with a perceived loss of connection with God, spirit, relational connection, can be paralyzing. When the pain is great, it seems to us that the solution must be great as well. We look for sensational—big, top-down fixes or breakthroughs. We think we need to hear God’s voice in a way we haven’t before, pray for clarity, find a big missing piece somewhere out there to alleviate the insecurity. There is a theory in criminology called “broken windows” that believes taking care of even the smallest signs of criminal activity or social disorder—fixing broken windows—creates an environment where even serious crime is less likely to happen. And where it’s been implemented, it seems to work. In other words, if you want to create big changes, you start with the little issues, the day to day broken windows in your city or in your life. Looking at Jesus’ life both in what is stated he taught in the gospels and just as importantly, what is left out in his 18 “lost” years shows a Jesus taking care of the smallest details on his way to a ministry that would shake a world. By identifying and working through our broken windows, no matter how insignificant they seem, we can find our way back to the presence of our God and the ability to make the risky decisions that will eventually shake our world as well.