"Not Breaking the Bruised Reeds" . . .

Some of us tend to do away with things
that are slightly damaged.
Instead of repairing them we say:
"Well, I don't have time to fix it,
I might as well throw it in the garbage can
and buy a new one."

Often we also treat people this way.
We say: "Well, he has a problem with drinking;
well, she is quite depressed; well,
they have mismanaged their business...
we'd better not take the risk of working with them."

When we dismiss people out of hand
because of their apparent woundedness,
we stunt their lives by ignoring their gifts,
which are often buried in their wounds.

We all are bruised reeds,
whether our bruises are visible or not.
The compassionate life is the life
in which we believe that strength
is hidden in weakness
and that true community is a fellowship of the weak.

Henry Nouwen