The title echoes the lyrics of the song “Welcome to the Black Parade” by My Chemical Romance.
“When I was a young boy, my father
Took me into the city to see a marching band
He said, “Son, when you grow up would you be
The savior of the broken, the beaten and the damned?”
He said, “Will you defeat them? Your demons
And all the non-believers, the plans that they have made?
Because one day, I’ll leave you a phantom
To lead you in the summer to join the black parade…”
Broken – like Humpty Dumpty who had a great fall. All the government experts and all the government men couldn’t put him together again. A children’s rhyme exhibits more wisdom than any indoctrinated authoritarian. A surgeon can put the body back together many times. There are other parts of you besides just your physical body. Disease and illness can break your mind or soul. The proper mental connections are not made, so it leaks into the physical world as well. Psychiatrists can treat the certain chemicals flowing in your brain, but it primarily mutes symptoms and does not solve the problem. Psychologists treat mental and behavioral issues. We are more developed than ever before in every aspect of treating the physical and mental brokenness of humanity, but yet the busted mind or soul is on the rise. Dysphoria, disorders, and suicides are skyrocketing. We have more solutions than any point in history, so why are we breaking at an increased rate?
Beaten – Sure, this could be the loser in a competition, but it is more a case of exhaustion. Can’t go anymore. Finished. The body or soul may be in one piece but your spirit is crushed. That “do not get out of bed” or “do not bother to try again” mindset. “Stinkin’ thinkin’” as a friend says, but in your core.
Damned – We broke the standard, whatever it was, in deliberate and spectacular fashion. It seemed like a great idea at that moment for want or even perceived necessity, but we betrayed ourselves, another, or both.
Save them? Repair and reassemble? Coach to victory? Set them free? What can we do? Are we willing to do that? Maybe you are one of those who are in need. Maybe you are one of the breakers, abusers, or the ultimate judge? Ultimately, if you are one of the latter three, you still qualify for the broken, beaten, or damned. We all fall under one at some point and find ourselves unable to fix, win, or justify ourselves.
God could step in and do all of those. One of the largest arguments against God is that He allows so much suffering. Almost 8 billion people on this planet make conscious choices to do wrong according to even their own standards. Since some believe that God is not doing what they expect and they can do better, then please display their default divinity and do the good you expect others to do. What about so many people just going out of their way to make this world more of a hell?
The charge remains whether or not the rest of us formerly in that scenario will rise to the rank of the Good Samaritan. What can YOU do? Make a list of all your abilities, gifts, talents, money, available time and serve one outside your immediate area of responsibility, excluding family and friends you already take care of. Look for another. If you are not currently serving your family and friends but just serving yourself, then start with them. Going to work is insufficient. Just doing good for those who do good to you is lacking. Help someone. Be kind to someone who may be undeserving but may need it. If you are codependent, you are possibly helping the wrong people. Get help for yourself.
Do to others as you would have them do to you. (Luke 6:31)