"Give me your tired, your poor....

.....your huddled masses yearning to breathe free." These were the words that are on the Statue of Liberty to welcome the millions of immigrants that entered the United States through Ellis Island, NY. Yet these words are also appropriate over the gates of the kingdom of God, for the God's kingdom is made up of broken people.

I've been at an intensive for my Masters degree this week which is centered on the emotional, psychological and spiritual health of those engaged in Christian ministry. It came as no surprise to those of us who have been in ministry for any length of time that Christian ministry is full of broken people who have been damaged by the vagaries of the journey of life. Statistics and anecdotal evidence all support the almost unthinkable truth that pastors are normal people, susceptible to the pains, struggles, weaknesses and stresses that afflict the rest of humanity.

This is a good thing. In fact, it's such a good thing that it prompted the Apostle Paul to write, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in hardships, in insults, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Cor. 12:9b-10) Jesus is seen most clearly in the lives of broken people who, by the power and presence of his Spirit within, faithfully walk this road of discipleship irrespective of the challenges of life. These disciples enjoy success and endure failure, they experience victories and defeats, they weep, they laugh, they mourn and they cheer, and in every season they remain resolute in their faith and love for Christ. And in those other days, those dark and troubling days when God seems far away and their faith and love falter, God graciously is faithful in his love and strengthening of his children.

The Christian church is made up of broken people. We may very in the extent of our brokenness, in the amount of healing that God has brought to our lives, but we are all, to a greater or lesser extent, broken. God loves us in our brokenness, but loves us too much to leave us that way.(That's not an original quote, but it is a good one.) My point is that we are all on a journey from brokenness to wholeness. That is both encouraging and liberating. It is encouraging in the realization that we all encourage, support and contribute to each other's healing; and liberating in the realization that we are all free to be ourselves and experience the transformational healing power of the Spirit in our own time and at our own pace.

In the church, no one is whole, no one is perfect, no one is without damage. The glorious wonder is that in Jesus Christ we broken, flawed humans find acceptance and healing love by his Spirit and in his called out community of Christ followers. The focus isn't on the brokenness, nor does ignore our brokenness, but the focus is on the person of Jesus the Messiah and his command to love, exhibit grace and forgiveness, and embrace justice and compassion. In him, Paul tells us, the very things that bring brokenness to our lives are avenues by which Jesus exhibits strength.

So, we welcome the hurting, the poor, the huddled masses who yearn to breathe the freedom that is offered in following the king, the Lord of this world, Jesus. We welcome them because they are us.