Beauty in the Ruins

While I was home sick this past week I binge watched season 7 of Project Runway. I am always looking for ways to broaden my horizons, enrich my mind, enhance mine, and my family's lives...  Watching the cat fights and backstabbing, and uncomfortable models walking down the runway in impeccably made clothes, or ill-fitting clothes (depending on who you ask) was the perfect way to meet all of my needs. Well, I am actually 1/2 kidding. But watching this show is pure entertainment for me, and it definitely makes me want to learn how to sew a button onto pants.
However, while watching the finale of season 7 today one of the final contestants was explaining his life, and how he came to be a designer. Emilio Sosa grew up in a low-income, urban environment, surrounded by drugs and violence. What he said keeps resonating with me. In spite of his life circumstances and his surroundings he said, "I saw beauty in the ruins."
Beauty in the Ruins.

I love this!

And then it got me thinking about the Pope. (I know. I know. Quite the leap, but just follow my stream of consciousness here.)
I am not Catholic. Therefore, there are many things about the Pope, and why people follow him, that I do not understand.  And that's ok. However, I keep seeing posts pop up on my newsfeed in facebook, or hear people on the news and on the radio talking about Pope Francis and what an incredible man he is. Even my non-religious/not practicing a particular faith friends make comments like, "Man, you know, I really like this Pope." And I must agree. He is an amazing man, full of grace, and compassion, and mercy. But what I want people to realize is that this man they love...

This man that stops for the sick, helps the poor, reaches out and holds the of the unwanted, the fringes in our societies around the world, the man who offers hope to the hopeless, the man who sees beauty in the ruins...beauty in all of us. This man...he is but a man, although incredible, that is immulating the very heart and actions of His Savior, Jesus. So while people want to take notice of this man and praise Him for his kindness, his love, and his mercy, I want people to take a step back and realize that this man is living and loving like Jesus lived and loved. And how He wants to live and love through each of us all the days of our lives.
However, because of the pain we have experienced at the hands of Christians, or witnessed through the lens of media outlets which cover some crazies, we choose to not even discover who Jesus is for ourselves.  We write Him off as a crazy leader that's only message was what he "didn't" stand for...and how we can fight for His agenda on earth, while He judges us from heaven. And this my friends, well this, breaks my heart, and makes me feel so sad for so many. Not in the "mean girls" feeling sorry for someone because they can only afford Target Lilly Pulitzer and not Boutique Lilly Pulitzer (for the record, I can't afford either, but whatever).  No, I feel sad because of what people are turning their backs on, without even looking into what Jesus really says, who He really is!

He is the author of seeing beauty in the ruins!

He sees us and loves us as we are, in this moment: the mess and train wreck of a life, marriage, abortion, relationship, divorce, eating disorder, domestic abuse, adultery, addiction, illness...you name it, and even in the midst of it He loves you. But the greatest thing about Jesus is He loves you so much, that He also sees you as He created you to be, and thinks you are stunningly beautiful. And He will guide you to that place where you see it in yourself, and you choose Him, the author and perfecter of beauty.
So while we want to shout for joy over Pope Francis, please know how he learned to love, and that is through His Savior who wants to live and breathe in each and every one of us if we let Him.
Can you imagine a world where we all selflessly loved others? Cared for the poor and down trodden? And I don't mean like the government taking care of people, but like...people taking care of people! Just like we see Pope Francis doing.

He is being just like Jesus.

The Joyful and Tired Mom

Enough with the Holy Huddles

I sat down feeling inspired and excited to write; then Nate came up to me and whined about something, and then his story ended with a story about a new friend of his that used to play with poop when he was little. A small transition to talk about my love for this pope seems a bit...well, not right.

However, having been sick in bed for the last several days with a kidney infection that won't quit has left me precious time to reflect on life, on what it means to love others-even if we don't agree with one another, and whether or not my heart will survive the rising blood pressure that will be brought about due to the 2016 election...and everyone's facebook comments about everything that offends them on our green earth, and why everyone who disagrees with them are idiots/fools. (The answer to that last bit is a definitive no, I won't survive, but I digress.)

But I keep thinking about what I want the church to look like. Who should we be in our current culture that politicizes EVERYTHING, and pits one person against another? One group against another. One religion against another. One opinion against another. Until before we know it, we are in a culture war that continues to escalate. And several groups are marginalized and fearful in a society that prides itself on "freedom."

While we continue to throw stones about immigration, abortion, marriage equality, healthcare, whether global warming is real or not, we forget to LOVE. Love others. Love them in spite of their views. Their race. Their political affiliation. Love them regardless of their sin, their beliefs, their choices. Love.
Choose Kindness. Seek to Understand, Rather Than Be Understood.

I wonder how we got to this place of judgment of others...for everything. And it occurred to me:

We are too busy pretending to be perfect, and pointing our fingers at those that aren't, that we don't have time to get to truly know someone. We're too busy acting like we have it all together.  We deflect our own feelings of inadequacy onto others, "If I can draw attention to their baggage, maybe no one will notice mine."
But that isn't life. That isn't living. And that isn't who we as believers are supposed to be, or how we are to act. We are to LOVE. We are to acknowledge that we are screwed up, and THAT is why we need a loving Savior. Not that we are perfect, and Jesus is lucky to have us on His side. I mean honestly, who do we think we are!
As I was feeling all of these feelings, and not knowing how to quite articulate what I was thinking, I came across a recording of Rend Collective. It's their "Campfire Story," and it perfectly describes what I want to overflow from churches everywhere.

"Is there anything quite like a campfire? The community that is built there by people sharing their stories, singing their songs is truly special.  It's so intimate. It's like being 10 years of age again and sharing all your secrets with your best friend. And that openness and vulnerability is exactly what we should see in the greatest community on earth-the church. There are no walls out here; and there should be no walls of defense toward God, or each other, even if we have been hurt. Worship isn't just confined to the 4 walls in the church building. And it's certainly not exclusive, but it's for every human being on the planet. In the kingdom of God, there are no outsiders.
We need to be careful  not to allow hurt or cynicism to drive us from church. Otherwise we end up like a branch taken from the fire, lifeless and cold. I know the pain we experience in life can be overwhelming, but we aren't meant to go through it alone.

All of us have the divine spark within us, and we so desperately need the breath of God to bring us to light and life. Jesus wants us to set the church on fire so the world can warm themselves around us, and find life and safety. We are here on earth to be a home or refuge for the lost and broken, but first we must learn the art of togetherness and celebration. To welcome people into the party of true freedom found in Jesus, we must first be students of that very way of life. 
We need to learn to celebrate. We need to choose His joy.
We are the church. We are the hope on earth.

To be on a journey as God's family, going through the highs and lows of life, suffering and laughing together, that's what I want; not some holy huddle where we all pretend everything is ok. But a real community who believes in the God of miracles, but also the God of the trials. That's what the world needs too.  So let's give out the invites. Put aside our selfish ways. And celebrate Jesus around the campfire.

It's time for you to start your fire."

-Rend Collective "Campfire Story

I am thankful that this is our church. It is a family. It is full of perfectly imperfect people that love and care for one another.

I don't want that celebration around the campfire to last an hour on Sundays. I want it to permeate our very lives, and the lives of all who know us.
For those who have been wounded by the church, Christ didn't come to condemn, he came to seek and save. Don't allow someone else's failure to keep you from the loving arms of Jesus.
And for the rest of us...let's set the church on fire. Bring Christ's message of love, hope, redemption, and joy to the world.
Let's quit deciding who is worthy of God's love, and love everyone, just as He did.
Let's stop pretending we have it all figured out. We don't.
Let's stop pretending that we don't struggle.
Lets stop pretending we don't stumble.
Let's stop pretending that life doesn't feel soul-crushingly hard sometimes.
God is a God of victory, in triumph, and in suffering. Let's show the world what it means to suffer alongside our Savior; AND celebrate the highs of life with Him as well.
Quit pretending.
Be real.
Stop the Holy huddles.
And let's rejoice that we worship a God of 2nd, 3rd, 4th...chances.

The Joyful and Tired Mom