We Are All Broken
Facebook's stock has fallen since the company's May 18 initial public offering price of $38 a share.
Weekly commentary by CBS Evening News chief Washington correspondent and Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer.
I have some thoughts for this season of reflection that began with Passover and ends with Easter.
Last summer at the Aspen Ideas Festival, I interviewed a minister named T.D. Jakes. He is an African American pastor of a Dallas megachurch of more than 30,000 people. He said something that day I shall never forget.
He reminded us that no one is perfect, that we are all broken somewhere.
But he said that is not all bad. A key is broken in all the right places to fit a certain lock. When that key is placed in that lock, there is a quiet click. When we meet a person who is broken in the right places to accommodate our brokenness, there is a click.
It can happen in other ways: An introverted person hears that click when he finds a job that can only be done by a person who works well alone; or when we face a life-altering decision.
Whether it is a job, or a relationship or even faith, something clicks when we find the place that accommodates our uniqueness, or brokenness.
Some religions teach prayer — some call it meditation — but there is within each of us some mysterious, inner thing that tells us when something clicks — we don't know how or why, we just know.
We are all broken. But listening for that click can help us to unlock many doors. The voice is always there — we have only to listen.
E-mail Face the Nation.
By Bob Schieffer
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved. I have some thoughts for this season of reflection that began with Passover and ends with Easter.
Last summer at the Aspen Ideas Festival, I interviewed a minister named T.D. Jakes. He is an African American pastor of a Dallas megachurch of more than 30,000 people. He said something that day I shall never forget.
He reminded us that no one is perfect, that we are all broken somewhere.
But he said that is not all bad. A key is broken in all the right places to fit a certain lock. When that key is placed in that lock, there is a quiet click. When we meet a person who is broken in the right places to accommodate our brokenness, there is a click.
It can happen in other ways: An introverted person hears that click when he finds a job that can only be done by a person who works well alone; or when we face a life-altering decision.
Whether it is a job, or a relationship or even faith, something clicks when we find the place that accommodates our uniqueness, or brokenness.
Some religions teach prayer — some call it meditation — but there is within each of us some mysterious, inner thing that tells us when something clicks — we don't know how or why, we just know.
We are all broken. But listening for that click can help us to unlock many doors. The voice is always there — we have only to listen.
By Bob Schieffer
Recommended
- Top Twelve Most Patriotic Songs Ever
- Many British Muslims Put Islam First
- Confessions of a former Republican
- Is 60 The New 40 Or Is 40 The New 60?
- The Decline and Fall of the American Empire
- Autoworkers Making $70 An Hour? Not Really
- Here's Why People Don't Buy Global Warming
- George W. Bush Vs. The Constitution
Thank you so much for your show and your commitment to be real about what's going on in our world. I believe so many news sources tell only partail stories, filtered ones if you will - but your ongoing hard work is truly appreciated and does not go unnoticed.
Also, I was really moved by your closing statement today, Easter Sunday. It was not only a great metaphor but so appropriate to the state of America these days. I hope that one day America will 'click' and find it's way and purpose as country that can be respected again. I feel like our 'key' has been manipulated to seem to fit but as we've seen in the past 5 years, it's just not working. Time for a new key, if you will, time for a new direction, time for a country that wakes up and 'clicks' once again. It's just too bad that we didn't run with all the clicking that happened after 9-11. It seemed the world was united in those days that proceeded. In some ways, it gave me hope that we could unite the world - but unfortunately, those at the top who in my mind, are corrupt, had a much different take and a very different plan.
Anyway - thanks for your dedication and don't ever retire. I'll be so sad! But I do only hope that those who would take your place have the same passion and dedication as you do. Keep up the great work! And I'll definitely keep watching.
Her leaders need to
Heal from the pain
War cause and the
Money wasted fighting
We ponder the whys
Our Nation is Broken
When children here
Go to bed with no meal
They grow up too poor
To make a difference
We lost the dream
Many years ago
I wonder this
Can America be healed
Or is it too late
I would like to think not
by Michelle
All of us carry wounds, imperfections, and incompleteness. It is the human condition. And on that level- that manangeable scale of the individual- we can all identify.
But there is a collective breakdown in our society that is not so manageable. And it is a long term fracture that leaves us hobbled. What is broken above all is our national trust and honor.
Ever since the murder of John F. Kennedy, America has struggled to come to terms with the rising awareness that hypocrisy characterizes our national leaders and their policies. And we have done our best to forgive them because most of us self-identify with those we elect, even when we excoriate them. They are our public servants, right?
But the chickens have come home to roost. The American Empire wears no clothes. And we stand collectively naked in the cold. America is hated around the world for our predilection for violence; for our brutal disregard for anything "not American." The blood on our hands is an indelible stain.
This will not stand. Spiritual laws will retaliate. Eventually our country will fall from collective fractures unless we curb our hubris. There is not a lot of time left. History is the great teacher. We are following the path of other civilizations who would so think to "lead the world."
Some things broken can't be fixed if a curative is not found in due time.
It was something to the effect that we are all broken. Some of us are more broken than others and it is up to those who are less broken to help those who are more broken.
Thank You for the beautiful reflection on this day of celebration. Easter Blessings to all, especially our servicemen & women & their families.
Carol Schneider
St Louis - MO USA
We each is broken in some way. Easter Blessings to you all