The Pursuit of Normalcy

So many areas of my life seem to be in an uproar right now. We've got the pregnancy, a good kind of instability. Then the double whammy of bankruptcy and foreclosure. Now we've had a new situation pop up this week that has really thrown me for a loop. I find myself desperately seeking the unconditional.

And I think I found it at church.

The Easter celebration ended in a wonderful song put on by our choir, one they had clearly put their entire hearts into. Completely uplifting. But what really gripped my heart was the visual display they were using during the singing. It was a picture of a man in a t-shirt, looking pretty worse-for-the-wear, as if he could not even support his own weight. But behind him was Jesus, holding him up with a look of love and His nail-scarred hands. How a man could go through the tortures Jesus did that Good Friday so long ago, and still feel completely devoted to us is beyond me. If it were just any one of us in His shoes, don't you think we'd feel contempt for the people we sacrificed our lives for, only to be belittled, disrespected, or even disregarded by those same people? I get upset when I send someone a birthday card and don't get thanked! Someday we'll understand the depths of His love, or not, depending on our beliefs. But I thank God for His unfailing and unconditional love for me, someone so completely unworthy.

And, as a nice little dessert to that wonderful meal, the social aspect of church is not lost on me. The people there can be counted on for emotional support, lots of hugs, and prayers. I'm so grateful for the camaraderie, the friends who are so generous with their hugs, the sense of belonging to a group. I even had an email from a friend last week who had just gone through some of the same problems we're facing, and was open to talking about their experiences with us - the courage of that isn't lost on me, even in these economic times, bankruptcy still carries the same stigma.

It's so great to know you're not alone, both with Jesus and with fellow believers. It makes it easier to keep your current situation in perspective, knowing that Heaven awaits, and until then you've got some of the greatest shoulders to lean on.