Abandoned

Granada, Nicaragua is a beautiful colonial Spanish town whose streets are lined with brightly painted walls and doors that invite you to relax in the flowering courtyards, homes, and unexpected surprises. Every time I went to Granada, I was taken back by the beauty of the doors, by the intrigue they aroused in me, and by their unknown stories and secrets.

A few of these doors were Pristine, with their elegant craftsmanship, smooth surface and beautifully stained wood. The rest fell into two categories; Weathered and Abandoned. Weathered was beautifully scarred by her stories. She possessed a wonderment that made me want to study her, to know the life she has lived, and the stories she guards.

Yet, these were not the doors that captured my attention. Instead, I fell in love with Abandoned, whose wood was splintered from top to bottom exposing her many layers of color. She protected herself with a rusty iron, ornate gate that once was her glory. Abandon’s missing pieces whispered of what once was. Locks that once protected her were rusted and exposed her vulnerability. The beauty of Abandon made me stop and study her every splinter. As I tried to fall asleep, the last night in Granada, Abandoned captured my attention. God taught me that these doors were like my heart.



Pristine appeared powerful and self-sufficient. She was beautiful, yet I was not very intrigued. This is my heart when I try to come before the Healer of Broken Hearts as if the hurt, that screams to be made known, does not exist. This is my heart when I think I can take care of everything by myself and without His help. The Healer is calling Pristine to trust Him. He knows her. He sees her.

 “I will be glad and rejoice in Your unfailing love, for You have seen my troubles, and You care about the anguish of my soul.” Psalms 31:7 

Weathered needs some touch-ups but, overall, she is still functioning. This is my heart when I know I need help but I allow my pride to say, “I’m still functioning so I’ll just keep on doing, besides who has time?” This is my heart when I ask the Healer of Broken Hearts to heal me, but I have placed “No Trespassing” signs on the areas that would hurt most. He begins His work, beckoning to enter my guarded areas. Instead, I turn to myself and ignore Him, all the while becoming more and more weathered. The Healer is calling Weathered to know Him. He knows her. He sees her.

“My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘LORD, I am coming.’” 
 Psalms 27:8 

Abandoned. Her name says it all, she appears useless and discarded. She is invisible. Yet, the Healer of Broken Hearts notices Abandoned. This is my heart when I bare all my wounds and aches to the Healer, including the areas protected by rusty barbed wire. I cry out to the Healer. I tell Him that I am afraid to let Him into those protected areas and I ask Him to help undo the barbed wire. I come out of hiding behind the splintered wood and I give Him access to what is left of me; feeling vulnerable and exposed. The Healer restores and transforms Abandoned. He knows her. He sees her.

“To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for His own glory.” Isaiah 61:3 

In the left bottom corner, Abandoned had a little hole containing secrets. I expected to find darkness or a skeleton of what once was. At first, I saw the darkness of loneliness, hurts, and fears that filled the mysterious room. A little deeper inward, awoke a beautiful field, full of sunlight with a blue sky whispering of a Hope within. Hope that only the Healer of Broken Hearts could bring. Abandoned, in all her vulnerability and outward appearance, held a beautiful masterpiece of Hope deep within. She is confident that the Healer will never leave her Abandoned.

Abandoned may never look like Pristine. However, she would never trade in her dancing colors of paint, the seas of splinters, barbed wire, and rust which are tender reminders of the Healer’s work of cultivating a rich Hope-filled soil that awakens within the depth of her heart and brings healing.

“But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine.’” Isaiah 43:1