Buddy and Julie Miller are successful songwriters, and many of their songs have been recorded by big-name artists.  (facebook.com/Buddy-Julie-Miller-69522817902)  This song was written by Julie Miller.   I have loved the elegance and simplicity of this song from the first time I heard it.   Though the lyric is a straight-forward first-person narrative, the song seems to never get old, and always ring true.  Ariel Smith’s vocal delivery beautifully communicates the naked fragility of the lyric.

If I asked you to conjure up a mental picture of a ‘spiritual person’, what is the first image that comes to mind?  STOP and think about that for a second.  For most of us, it would be hard to ignore the cultural stereotypes we’ve been fed.  The serene monk on the mountain, far above the rat-race.  The robed clergyman angrily denouncing the sins of his parishioners.  Mother Theresa comforting the suffering.  etc.

In my view, one of the most important characteristics of a spiritual person is humility.  Someone has said that the doorway to spiritual progress is low, and hard to get under.  Intelligence, virtue, discipline or wealth can open lots of doors – but not this one.  We tend to grade ourselves on a curve in order to support the notion that we are worthy of being considered ‘spiritual’.  We tell ourselves that, well... we are not as bad as ‘those’ guys ...  as if someone else’s faults can somehow make us better people.  It’s only natural – but we are always trying to present ourselves in the best possible light.  “... I tried to fix it myself but it was only worse when I got through”.

Broken Things makes no excuses, attempts no deflection, refuses to conceal.  It rejects false certainties.  In fact, the song is a whole-hearted acceptance and embrace of weakness.  It’s a call to honesty.  But, as we all know - it’s hard to live there.  It’s unlikely that you will find it on falsebook ... uh facebook.  But if we can admit to ourselves that there are ‘broken things’ within us,  maybe we can embrace all the good and bad in each other.  “You can have my heart if you don’t mind broken things”.
In this song, the artist has decided to rest, not in her strength but in her weakness.  This kind of surrender is courageous.  I think it’s a good place to start, and might be the only way forward.

"Broken Things" (lyrics)
by Ariel Smith

You can have my heart, though it isn't new
It's been used and broken, and only comes in blue
It's been down a long road, and it got dirty along the way
If I give it to you, will you make it clean
And wash the shame away?

You can have my heart, if you don't mind broken things
You can have my life; you don't mind these tears
Well, I heard that you make old things new
So I give these pieces all to you
If you want it, you can have my heart

So beyond repair, nothing I could do
I tried to fix it myself
But it was only worse when I got through
Then you walk right into my darkness
And you speak words so sweet
And you hold me like a child
'til my frozen tears fall at your feet

You can have my heart, if you don't mind broken things
You can have my life if you don't mind these tears
Well, I heard that you make old things new
So I give these pieces up to you
If you want it, you can have my heart

Written by Julie Miller
© 1991 Warner/Chappell Music, Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group