I love the body of Believers I get to be a part of. It's always good to worship with fellow sojourners and feast on spiritual food for grown-ups. I always come away feeling edified and somewhat spiritually trampled (in a good way - like squashed grapes probably feel after juicing. The squashing process sucks - but then you're left with all that juicy goodness. Yum.)
So, several Sundays ago, I capped off the morning by lunching with friends at a local favorite Mexican haunt. There were chips. There were quips. There were lips. You know. Like, attached to faces, and moving in such a way to communicate language and ideas. (because those other lips not attached to faces are fuh-ree-kay)
We're talkin'. Catchin' up. Hangin' out. Making fun of people. Well, mostly one another, because that's what good Christians do. And Allison looks over at one of the kids at the end of the table and just kind of marvels at what said-child is trying to do - which kind of looks like eating crackers? Except for the crackers are still in the bag, and he's chewing the crackers THROUGH the bag. "Um. What are you trying to do there, son?" the dad asks as he takes the bag away from the child.
Bemused, the child simply states "Eating."
"Well," the dad falters, "let me help you there." And he ... you know... OPENS the bag.
It's funny because this kid is smart. Like old man smart. You can see the wheels always turning, like he's figuring stuff out and scheming and planning the ultimate demise of humankind. So, I think for whatever reason, though he wasn't accomplishing his ultimate goal right away, he knew that if he kept gnawing at the plastic, it would eventually give way to cheesy cracker goodness.
What IS it with the humans? Are we just hardwired to respond better to trials and tribulations? Is the whole of our existence somehow tapped into hardship? Our directional beacons are always flashing through a big steaming pile of crap. Why is that? So that we can revel in the profundity of our frailty and be evermore grateful for God's infinite strength?
Or maybe... maybe it's because we live in a fallen sinful world, and we are fallen sinful people drenched by the depravity of our own wretchedness - sitting in private corners, eating crackers through plastic bags. And maybe... maybe the process of sanctification also includes recognizing that slamming myself against a wall so as to get to the next room isn't ENTIRELY necessary if there is already a doorway provided.
"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face....."
Ah. To unveil these eyes, and watch the dark clouds of obscurity dissipate under the perfect clarity of understanding. Y'all, when I get there? I would love to look back and see the girl laying in her bed - wearing an old gray sweatshirt - bundled up in the comfort of her own naivety, with a lap top resting on her stomach, and I will laugh softly as I recall the silly tears that spilled down the silly cheeks of the silly girl who was pondering life, and love, and eating crackers through bags.
"... now I know in
part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known." - 1 Corinthians 13:12
Recent Comments