Here’s
a quote for you: “If I’ve ever gotten it all together I surely can’t remember
where I put it.”
A
touch of humor, but a deeper thought for sure.
Do
you have it all together? Is every
single element of your life in order, in sync?
What a pleasant thought if that is true, yet many of us find our lives
to be going in the opposite direction.
I
so admire people who appear to have put their lives all together in all the
right ways, and yet I rarely find even one individual who qualifies as a role
model in that pursuit.
I
think Anne Lamott hit it right on the bead.
Prayer is taking the chance
that against all odds and
past history, we are loved
and chosen, and do not
have to get together
before we show up.
We
think we have to fix ourselves before coming to God, when the opposite is
really the truth.
I’ve
quoted Brennan Manning’s quote a few times and it still applies today.
So,
you still think you’ve got to get it all together FIRST and then approach
God?
1
Peter 5:7 reminds us: “Cast all your cares on him because He cares for you.”
In
the story of the prodigal son, we read this:
“So, he (the prodigal son) got up
and came to his father. But while he was
still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran
and embraced him and kissed him.” ~Luke 15:20
It
appears to me that the prodigal son didn’t have it all together. His clothes were in rags, he was hungry, he had
road grime on him and he smelled of pigs and sweat and other less desirable
body odors.
And
yet this parable depicts a story of love and acceptance as the son was, not as
he should have been. When he left home,
he was dressed in finery, he smelled nice, looked nice, was healthy and had the
jingle of coins in his pocket.
And
on the return trip – he was stripped of all of that. He didn’t have it all together.
And
yet the Father (a picture of God) ran to his son. He embraced him and ordered the fat calf to
be killed, clean clothes to be brought and a banquet prepared. Invite the neighbors ‘cause we’re going to
celebrate the return of my son.
If
anyone ever depicted a life that did not have it together, surely it was the
prodigal son. And yet … he was accepted.
Perhaps
we should gather the rags and shards of our lives and lay it all at the feet of
Jesus. He delights in sorting things out
and putting in order what we cannot do on our own.
This
gives me great hope today.
Offering Words of
Hope Encouragement
Inspiration
One Word at a Time
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