See whatever is lacking within us or whatever is hurting within us to be not so much broken as unfinished.
During the course of life, when we invest our heart in something—be it a relationship, a project, or any aspiration—we may end up feeling disappointed or even devastated. At such times, it’s common to say that our heart is broken. We may feel a deep hurt inside and worry whether something fundamental is lacking within us—whether we lack the ability to succeed in any worthwhile endeavor or whether something in our core personality makes us unlovable.
While such feelings are understandable when we face significant loss or pain, they remain undesirable and unreal. They distort reality. Our heart is rich—with the presence of our soul, an eternal and beloved part of the Divine, and with the presence of the Divine Himself, who resides as the indwelling Supersoul, our constant companion and mentor.
The Bhagavad Gita (18.61) asserts that the Divine is constantly guiding our wandering through this world and striving to educate and illuminate us so that these wanderings become transformed into a pilgrimage to a place of lasting fulfillment (18.62). Whatever feels broken in our heart, causing hurt or a sense of deficiency, is actually not broken but unfinished. Under Divine guidance and within His plan, our heart—and indeed we ourselves—are works in progress.
Just as a stone being sculpted into a beautiful statue may bear jagged edges that can hurt anyone who touches it, and just as it must endure sharp blows from a hammer and cuts from a chisel, so too must our heart endure such shaping experiences. While it is important to address the specific situations and people that caused distress in our lives by learning and growing from those events, it is equally vital to ensure that our vision isn’t locked on these mundane factors alone. Beyond the specifics of what happened and who caused it lies a universal truth: ultimately, it is God who orchestrates events in our life for our ultimate good.
By regularly raising our vision upward through prayer and meditation, we can shed feelings of hurt, deficiency, and brokenness. This helps us become more willing co-operators and active participants in the Divine plan. Through this cooperation, the unfinished business in our hearts can be resolved, allowing us to realize and relish the Divine potentials gifted to us by the Lord. These gifts enable us to lead lives rich in love and service—not just in this life but beyond it as well.
Summary:
- When we face serious setbacks in things we’ve invested our heart in, we may feel broken and deeply hurt.
- However, Gita wisdom guides us to see beyond the immediate causes of our distress and recognize the Divine hand shaping our life, much like a sculptor shapes a stone into a masterpiece.
- Re-envisioning our heart as unfinished rather than broken gives us hope and purpose, enabling us to become enthusiastic participants in the Divine plan to manifest our God-given potentials. This enriches our hearts with unending love and our lives with fulfilling service.
Think it over:
- When something we’ve invested our heart in doesn’t work out, what typical feelings tend to arise and haunt us?
- How can Gita wisdom help us change our vision of our heart’s state during such times?
- Reflect on how you can apply this wisdom to change your perception of any pain you may currently be facing.
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18.61 The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone’s heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy.
Pain is the punishment ordained by the GOD for sins