Before the Desert (part 4)

So what do I expect the experience to be like?

It might sound a bit odd to say it this way but I expect it to be kind of anti-climactic. I expect to get there and it is really hot, dirty and smells different than home. I expect to spend much of the time sitting around waiting for things to happen because life moves slower in their culture. I don’t expect everything to be a perfectly orchestrated event where things go smoothly and I always have energy. I expect it to be a very messy experience. But I expect it to be a holy experience.

Often when we talk about holiness, or what it means to be holy, we paint a picture of a nice, neat, clean life where things are smooth sailing because we’re “doing God’s will.” But I would argue that some of the holiest moments are also some of dirtiest, messiest moments.

For example, the Cross. The most holy, loving moment which is central to our faith. That moment was anything but neat and clean. Jesus is beaten, bloody, mocked and spit on and this is the moment that saves humanity.

So maybe when Jesus says “Take up your cross and follow me” it’s not about living a cleaner, smoother life. Maybe it’s about moving towards experiences that the rest of the world runs from.

Maybe it requires that things get very dirty and very messy.

~ by Dave on November 5, 2007.