Broken
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men…
couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty together again.”
As children we hear those lines from the popular nursery rhyme and envision the rotund title character falling from atop the wall, sustaining said physical injuries and ultimately being in such a damaged state that he was in fact beyond repair. The lines are merely a factual account of a sad incident. This summary is one interpretation—it is what one would hear from a child when asked to talk about the story. Children by nature tend to process stories literally. It is much later in life that we learn to “read between the lines”—to see underlying meaning in what is read. With knowledge of literary tools like symbolism or double entendre one can see beyond the literal translation to what is a classic parable of fear, pain and loss on a scale far greater than merely the physical. At the heart of the rhyme is each of us as we live out the days of our existence. The tale parallels how we find ourselves time and time again, regardless of any efforts by the “king’s horses and the king’s men”, confronted with circumstances calling for us to “put (ourselves) together again”. More often than not the human spirit can summon the strength needed to achieve success…an outcome differing greatly from that of the ill-fated Humpty Dumpty. In the average person’s life it is probable that there will be several times when they find themselves void of strength, hope or faith, struggling to find the will to face each day and harboring a spirit, heart, body or soul (and/or any combination thereof) in need of repair. In these moments most people will rise to the challenge and ultimately overcome whatever it was to have rendered them “broken”. If circumstances involve physical injury and pain the repair process (while possibly lengthy in duration or demanding in nature) is often easier than the process faced in times of emotional suffering. Emotional healing is not always achieved through known or conceivable method. Often the damage to the spiritual being can be such that it simply cannot be mended no matter how valiant the effort and strong the will to make it so.
In the span of my 39 years I have known my share of personal trial and tribulation. I’ve challenged and overcome physical injuries ranging from mild to life-threatening. In addition I seem to be on a quest of sorts to determine just how much injury and subsequent rehabilitation my heart and soul will endure before failing to bounce back. So far they have taken a “lickin’ but keep on tickin’.” I would venture to say that I am one of the luckier ones in that my personal tally of suffering and strife is not of record breaking status. Still…I must also acknowledge that as a person who possesses more than my fair share of pedestrian flaws I am assured many more instances before I meet my maker in which my will shall undoubtedly be tested. As one acquires more life experience one thing becomes abundantly clear with respect to this human condition…the only constant is change. More often than not changes that occur and ultimately have a profound and/or irreversible effect tend to come when we least expect them or when we are ill-equipped to deal with them entirely. The inalienable truth of such a cold reality lies in the fact that if one chooses not to deal with the adversities of life…elects not to try to overcome…if one cowers and flees with proverbial tale between legs…eventually one arrives at complete and utter personal defeat leading in turn to the figurative or literal (sometimes both) end to life as one knows it. Many will assert that there are things one must endure in life that serve to make us stronger provided they do not culminate in death. Personally I am more inclined to believe that life is improvisational art performed by each of us for the purpose of entertaining the cosmic powers that be. Quite frankly there are instances when there is neither conceivable purpose nor justifiable reason for what some are forced to face time and time again…even those lucky enough to be both emotionally and physically sound and strong. Most stories that are dramatic or adventurous in nature involve conflict that leads to a circumstantially specific outcome. As we each play lead day after day in this drama we call life there are none blessed with immunity to hardship. Additionally, there are few at best that are lucky enough to be starring in a tailored romantic comedy, Broadway musical or fairy tale. All in all life can only be what each of us chooses to make of it as we live out our days seeking happiness and fulfillment or dying in the process!
