Cracked Open

I have taken to watching the British detective show, “Vera”. Vera is a gruff, uncompromising slightly obsessive police inspector who has more than her share of murder mysteries to solve. Located in north-east England she is relentless when presented with a case, chasing down witnesses, following leads, and chasing suspects. It takes her an hour and a half but she always solves the case.

The thing I like most about the drama it is the murkiness of the storyline. As each episode unfolds there are so many possibilities as to the likely murderer it takes careful teasing out to find the guilty one. There is a moment in each episode when Vera’s eyes widen, there is an urgency to her movement, and you know she has just ‘cracked the case’. Cracked open all the evidence and solved the crime.

I have been thinking a lot about being cracked open. Maybe because it is gardening season – seeds go into the ground, soil, compost, sunshine, rainfall and the seeds crack open, send out shoots, produce blossoms, then fruit, then seeds for future planting.

I also thought about being cracked open myself. I recently attended a funeral. I have conducted a lot of funerals over the past year. But I was sitting in the congregation this time. The service was to memorialize my long-time friend’s mom. She spoke lovingly of her mom and then said a prayer. I don’t remember the words now but I do remember that something in what she said cracked me open. Hardened grief can be deep and the seed of it can be a tough shell. When the conditions are just so, it the seed of grief cracks open and the heart cramps, the tears flow, something new is born and with God’s grace what is born is healing.

Cracking open happens in other ways. I went to see the movie, ‘Book Club – the Next Chapter’ last weekend. The plot line is thin. The lead actor, Jane Fonda has had so many face lifts and so much Botox she can hardly blink her eyes, but the scenery is absolutely gorgeous. The women travel to Italy. The views, the background, ‘cracked open’ for me the appreciation for the beauty of the world, the glory of historical sites, the longing to travel and see the preserved past, to soak up the beauty of the world.

We can be cracked open in so many ways. Sing me a chorus of ‘It is Well With my Soul’ and it cracks open a well of gratitude. Walk with me through the pasture of the farm where I grew up and it cracks open a parade of memories. Let me listen to a sermon from a powerful preacher and it cracks open the depth of faith contained in my soul.

So dear readers – I wish for you moments of being cracked open, cracked open to receive the Spirit of healing, of hope, of faith, of life, of beauty, of memory, of grace.