As we complete our look at David and Bathsheba and God’s love for them, we realize that our relationship with God is never a straight path. David is a perfect example of someone who takes 2 steps forward and one step back. Sometimes it’s one step forward and two back.
This graphic illustrates our expectation of any relationship
or goal or plan. We think it should be a nice straight line, but the truth as
we live it out is much more convoluted. That is true of our faith. Some days
our faith is very strong and others, we may have to struggle to say ‘I believe’
or ‘I trust You’.
What a consolation it might be for us all, if we admitted that even though we have walked the Faith Journey for a few (or many) years, we still don’t have all the answers. Instead, we try to bluff our way through and insist that we DO have faith and love every moment of every day.
As I mentioned last week, that attitude can lead us to shame
ourselves when we have a day when we don’t feel that faith-filled. Would it not
be better to allow God to love us? This poem, Oh Human, by Steve Garnass-Holmes encapsulates
how God feels about us—love!
There is no reason to laugh, other than to laugh.
And you laugh. Oh, human, I love you.
You pray to me and have no idea what you’re doing,
but I love it.
When things matter you turn to flowers and songs.
When you are sad, you weep oceans.
You express grief with beauty.
You tell stories that become people, eventually yourself.
You invent things that are silly and lovely and useless
and impossible not to like.
You struggle, and fail, and don’t give up,
as if there is something of the stars in you.
You laugh at yourself, especially when it hurts.
When you are small, wonder carries you around,
and when you are older, you trade places.
Even when you do terrible things—
especially when you do terrible things—
you are a small precious child just trying to survive.
And you survive.
I lavish my delight on you.
Of course you object: “But I’m so messed up!”
Darling, you are more messed up than you know.
But you’re mine. And I’m so glad I have you.
Garnass-Holmes reminds us that we are more messed up than you know but that God delights in us anyway. What a joy and relief.
In November, we'll start our final Pentecost series by looking at Deborah, a judge of the Hebrew scriptures. How might her wisdom and courageous actions inspire us in our own faith walks?
