Marred and Scarred but Beautiful!
Written By: Chris Mace
Walking through the Schoodic Bog, one is reminded that our beautiful world is marred by nature’s disruptive and destructive whims. Similarly, the wonders and joys of our journeys are pockmarked with imperfections, disasters, and failures. Personal brokenness is universal.
Much of what arises from our human nature and earthly plight is not pleasant. We deal with the devastations of human greed, hatred, bias, and discord and are challenged by sadness, grief, disappointment and difficulties. Humanity groans for relief from poverty, famine, persecution, injustice, and war.
However, God promises to bring order to disorder, to make crooked paths straight, and to free those imprisoned by the bonds of sinful minds and behaviors. His sovereign plan for all creation is redemptive and restorative. The “Good News” is that beauty can rise from devastation; glory can be retrieved from dishonor; joy may shine through sorrow; and good will overcome evil.
Scripture reveals that for those who trust Him there will be rest for the weary, peace for the troubled, comfort for the hurting, healing for the wounded, forgiveness for the sinner, and confidence in a bright future for the believing because God is mercifully reconciling corrupted creation and rebellious humanity to Himself through Christ, who shines the truth of God’s love into our hearts and minds.
The Apostle John spoke of Jesus as “ The light (who) shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Jesus actually claimed to be the “light of the world (John 1:4-5; 8:12). He elucidated our spiritual condition by living and showing us God’s love, glory, and purity and how we fall short of reflecting that glory and how our unrighteousness separates us from God. However, he bridged that dark, unholy gap by taking upon himself the wrath which our sins deserve when he died on the cross. He gives us the protection of his righteousness through our faith.
A life with Jesus is one of redemption. From the ashes of messy lives, he will heal and restore troubled spirits, taking one from brokenness to spiritual wholeness and to restoration to God by our repentance and belief (Mark 1:15). Even though the old, flawed nature still tugs at us, God gives us the beauty of Jesus as we increasingly learn what it means to live as His deeply loved children.
“He makes all things beautiful in His time” Ecclesiastes 3:11). Just as this bog reflects the mountain’s glory , we can reflect God’s.
Chris Mace is a long term member and former Elder of UBC. He and his wife Suzanne have moved to North Carolina to be closer to family.