Humpty Dumpty

Musing… Humpty Dumpty was an fragile egg; perhaps I’m a fragile Humpty.

I live in a fragile world – demonstrated by climate change and pollution. I’m reminded that  my health is fragile – covid, cancer… I’m surrounded by fragile confidence, fragile relationships, fragile hope…

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall

Fragile eggs should be in a nest or protected in an egg box with other eggs. Humpty was alone on a wall; naked eggs on walls are vulnerable.

I sometimes find that I’m in a difficult, dangerous or lonely place that is clearly visible to all. I may wish I wasn’t alone on the wall but that’s where I am. Because of my fragility I’m vulnerable to doubt, despair, depression…

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall

If Humpty was another brick in the wall he would landed unharmed; if he were a rubber ball he would have bounced…

From the top of my wall falling is always possible and can be disastrous. I’ve fallen from my wall in the past. Sometimes I’ve been pushed, sometimes the winds of circumstances have blown me, sometimes in stupidity I’ve rolled…

For a falling egg the result is inevitable.

All the king’s horses and all the king’s men…

Humpty isn’t alone; he has friends, a support group who were prepared to come and try to find a solution.

When I often find myself falling and alone I sometimes discover that the unexpected cavalry arrive. What’s important is not that they do something, but they are there to offer support.

Couldn’t put Humpty together again…

You can’t unbreak an egg. Once it’s broken that’s it. Humpty couldn’t return to his unbroken state… The story leaves him broken – no superglue mending or miraculous transformation – but he was still Humpty – broken but still Humpty

And I muse on my brokenness… I’m still me when I’m broken… I muse on my faith in the one who became broken like me and for me.