Repair
To repair is to fix. To recover. To resurrect.
The first mistake we can make when thinking about these notions is to think that something is repaired. Or recovered. Or resurrected.
Anyone who owns a house will tell you the house is never repaired. It is always in a state of being repaired. Those who are trying to recover — from surgery, from addition, from loss — are never recovered. They’re always in recovery. As we look at a planet staggering from our mistreatment of it, resurrection is happening all the time, in every weed that pops up in a driveway crack, in every cell that divides.
We will never be fixed. We are already fixed. We are always being fixed.
Recovery/repair/resurrection are, I think, ways of practicing — not for constant self-improvement exactly, but because they are the primary ways we stay alive. We recover. We repair. We resurrect. Ourselves and others, individually and in community.
There’s one song these days about repair that everyone knows, and I’m going to play it for you in the context of a particular kind of resurrection and recovery. Content warning: gun violence, emotional content, and four letter words.
Just breathe regular.
Meditation
This meditation invites you to reflect on the ongoing nature of repair in your life and the world around you.
Find a peaceful spot and take a comfortable seat. Close your eyes and take a few deep, calming breaths. Feel the weight of your body grounding you, anchoring you in the present moment.
Imagine yourself in a space that feels like it's in need of repair. It could be a physical place, like an old house, or something more abstract, like a relationship or a personal challenge.
Visualize the process of repair in this space. Notice that it's not about fixing everything at once, but rather engaging in a continuous effort of care and attention. Observe how each act of repair adds to the overall wellbeing of the space.
Now, turn this visualization inward. Reflect on areas in your own life that are in a constant state of repair. Acknowledge that, like the house, you are always in a process of becoming, evolving, and healing.
As you meditate, breathe in the understanding that repair is not a one-time event, but a lifelong journey. With each inhale, draw in patience and compassion for yourself and the world around you. With each exhale, release the need for immediate perfection or completion.
Conclude your meditation with a moment of gratitude for the ability to engage in the ongoing act of repair, for the lessons it teaches, and for the growth it brings.
Examen
Reflect on a recent situation where you engaged in the act of repair. What did you learn from this process? How did it contribute to your personal growth or the wellbeing of others?
Consider the idea that recovery and resurrection are continuous processes. How does this perspective change your approach to personal challenges or global issues?
Think of a time when you felt 'fixed' or 'repaired.' How did this feeling evolve over time? What does it teach you about the nature of healing and growth?
As we walk through Advent, let's recognize the beauty and necessity of the constant state of repair in our lives.