I used to have this saying, that we are all walking blocks of concrete. Each one of us having a little rock pick in our hand. As we pass one another in this life we have an opportunity to leave our marks on other people, as well as allowing for them to leave their marks on us.

Some take time to sculpt and mould carefully, some just make a quick insignificant chip and some people spend too much time around us – carelessly chipping away leaving us a bit damaged.

The same can be said for us as well. How much thought goes into what type of marks we leave on everyone that crosses our paths in a day?

I have been struggling with this concept a little bit, lately. Even though I still like this comparison very much – I feel that there is something just a little bit missing.

It only focusses on the external effects on us. And a concrete block has no heart nor soul, no warmth – no inner core.

In lieu of a great sermon from the Ds. on Sunday where my brothers’ little girl was singing in the choir (Also my dad’s old church from his childhood). I felt I needed to change my perspective on the chipping and moulding from the outside and include the possible changes that happens from inside. And that is the absolute best changes, despite the bit of brokenness the outside appearance gives off.

Oooh…. Do I have your attention now?😊

I am going to be honest, sometimes we stay a little bit too long in a careless chipping situation. And we defend it – because we know that people who are hurting, also hurt other people. But when it becomes a habit, there is underlying issues.

Sometimes we quickly walk past others and just chip, without really looking – because we are busy, because it’s not convenient right now.

Sometimes with the best of intentions, we can start out carefully, but get bored and selfish and hasten the process with whoever is in front of us.

Dear reader – you know that I think of intentions and motives quite often. The road to hell is paved with good intentions – a very harsh saying goes. But as mentioned previously – Good intentions, does not always have good outcomes. And good outcomes do not always have good intentions. Habitually bad behaviour, however is a clear indication of where intentions lie.

So, as I was pondering the little broken (crakced?) sculpture that life brings out of us, I also pondered the beauty of a cracked clay pot in reference to the sermon. It can no longer carry water, but it can carry light. It cannot be used to store oil in, but it can be used for flowers.

And I wondered, if maybe all we need in life sometimes – is that last careless chip, to crack open the concrete straight to our core, our hearts and our true beings. That illusion (delusion?) broken, in order for us to see how things truly are. How people truly are. To make peace with uncomfortable situations, take accountability only for what we can – no more; and allow others to walk their own little paths.

What if we are concrete blocks, but we also need that last chip – to fully realise that there is freedom in disillusionment. Freedom in the disappointments. Freedom in the heartbreak. And that last crack is the exact opportunity needed, for change to start happening from the inside of us. Where we cannot change ourselves.

Some people spend their lives chasing things and fleeting moments where they feel stable. Stability does not come from a place of ignorance, a comfort zone or a delusion. It does not come from smooth sailing seas.

It comes from a place where everything can be chaotic around you – and you still know that your strength comes from inside of you, but not created by you.

And in my own vivid imagination I started seeing the moulded concrete blocks slightly different. Warmer, lighter, more beautiful. Cracked by design.

I will always advocate that people should take those around them into consideration. That our lives are not our own. That our decisions have consequence; that other people will have to bare the weight of, at times. Therefore – we must be conscientious of how we chip at the people that crosses our paths.

But there are also changes happening from the inside of us, and that in itself is a miraculous thing to look forward too in every single chip.

Have a lovely, cracking week, friends!