Love, save the empty, and save me. And save me. ~Erin McCarley Love Save the Empty
In other words, messy spirituality is the delirious consequence of a life ruined by Jesus who will love us right into His arms. ~Mike Yaconelli Messy Spirituality
It's been awhile since I've blogged but what can I say? The Wasteland consumed me and I've been sitting in it- wondering which way to go now.
Oddly, today I was reprieved of work for awhile and God has given me this time to do some serious reflection. Reflection on a very strange truth that has presented itself but one I think I've known. You see in the Wilderness you. Will. Get. Messy.
If you are opposed to sand and dirt might I suggest an entirely different religion. Sorry but Christianity isn't a neat religion contrary to several theologians beliefs. It's just plain messy. Christ was messy. He was not by the books, or the books the scary Pharisees kept throwing at Him. He was by the Lord...He is the Lord. 'Nuff said. All this and you read in Scripture Christ had messy feet. Sandy- dirty- and always need of cleaning. I think this was one giant metaphor for following Him that if you desire that life- be prepared. You will get messy.
The truth I've come to find is God's love for messy people. Not this cookie cutter Christianity that actually makes me embarassed to say I am a Christian but the real intense love God has for ALL people. Lately I've heard that people from churches treat the 'interesting' people of this world as if there is no room for them in God's house. First off, note the term God's house. It ain't yours. We are renters and who are we to say who is fit to come into God's house and who isn't? Secondly, Jesus kicked it with these people while He was on Earth. These were His crew... He'd prefer them over us. Did you ever stop to think about that?!?
Seriously.
And all those Bible heroes- those Israelites in the Wilderness- now there was a messy people. Idols, murder, disobedience, whining, complaining, and just plain annoyed. They were God's chosen people and I wonder if at some point God just didn't want to say, "That's it! If I hear one more word out of you I am calling this journey off and sending you all back to the Pharoah and let him deal with you!!!" I doubt God would have done this- Him being the master of patience and all but you still wonder...
I am a messy person. Literally and figuratively and especially in the Wasteland. It's probably why I love Mike's book so much and though I have read it a 1000 times, I cry and I learn and I laugh all over again. God speaks so many truths to me through it about who I am and how much He loves me- even as a messy person.
As a Wasteland Adventure Guide, I want, scratch that- I need to share this truth with others. The God who loves the messiness and the empty. The God who loves the imperfect and cares for all. The God who is bigger and better than the Christians. The Wasteland is not a place I am by myself; it's where God is and I know He is with me. Where He richly and daily blesses me and I am nothing more or less than amazed.
The Wasteland is messy and it is a place for this messy spirituality. It's place where you can see Jesus' footsteps better than ever.
~The Messy Wasteland Adventure Girl
Thursday, January 8, 2009
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