A time to tear… (Ecclesiastes 3: 7) – Usually, when we experience a tear, it happens unintentionally. We can have a tear in our clothes, in our linens, in our curtains or even in one of our internal organs. In none of these cases is the tear planned or done on purpose. Yet, this verse states rather forthrightly that there are times when we should not only tear on purpose, but tear with purpose. When could such times be?

1). Times of grief. The Bible uses the phrase: “He rent his clothes” quite frequently in connection with grief. (e. g. Genesis 37: 34) Ancient Near Eastern people regularly expressed their extreme grief by literally tearing their clothes. No one is suggesting this as a recommended practice for us today. However, permission to express grief is the point of this tear. When death comes to someone we dearly love, it is a time to tear.

2). Times of separation. Ties to possessions, pursuits, practices and people are often so tight that they cannot be cut. They must be torn. It would be easier and cleaner to cut these ties, but because we cannot let them go, we have to be torn away from them. We must be torn away from abusive relationships, torn away from self-destructive behavior, torn away from I-pads, I-phones, laptops and televisions, and yes, even torn away from the dinner table.

3). Times of sharing. Tearing also means sharing. We tear a piece of paper to give a child something to write on. We tear a loaf of bread to offer a friend food to eat. We tear a paper towel to help clean up a mess. These types of tears are imprecise in terms of neatness and accuracy. Still, they reflect a willingness to part with something of value to enhance the life of someone we value.

4). Times of riddance. It is unnecessary to tear up something before we throw it away. Yet, we do it all the time. Why? We tear it up because we want to completely destroy it. We tear it up because we want to make sure no one else can use it or be hurt by it. We tear it up because we want to leave no evidence of it. We tear it up because we want to forget it. Once we tear it, we are once and for all rid of it.

Do you have anything to tear?