~ Joy in growing recognition of INCLUSION

The longer I walk this way, lately, the brighter it gets here.... and, I LOVE that ! You're sewing such a work within my life, one I could have never conjured in my wildest imaginings. How DO You become so adept at each of us ? Seems a mute question to the Creator, yet I stand about drop-jawing on that very point, more and more often. Chasing the investment of my truths around the world that You offer me day after day, sometimes in seeming futility, ... I grow skeptical too often. Then, from the blue yonder comes a weekend like that just past, and I bow in contrite awe at Your orchestration of all things. What a God You are !

Thank You.

In short, a weekend with 3 different girlfriends of 30-35 years in acquaintance. One frequently seen, one regularly seen and one not seen in 35 years. Hmmmm....

The third had the greatest obvious impact on me, at least for as long as I've thusfar given it all to percolate within my spirit. Thematic, really... the subject of percolation has been steeping in there for months now. INCLUSION. Your's. Your inclusion for all. She tapped that in me.

There's just so much going on in my mind and spirit, that I can't quite unpack, unfold and unwrap it all here, today, Jesus. I DO want to thank You for it all, though. ...and, I want to thank You for the perfect mentors that You have ushered me toward these past few years. The seeds sewn in my spirit and mind in their faithful company are presently bearing a NEW fruitfulness that is sustaining me and leading me into new growth. YOU DA BOMB, BABY JESUS.

The oddest thing began the revelations that are filling me. This teen-years-friend is the sister of my first-ever 'date.' All I did was ask about him and the sad reactions ensued. Last I'd seen of him was, at our previous church, some 20 years ago. He was playing bass in the worship band, occasionally. He is married to my childhood best friend. They met while we were dating, actually. When he and I broke up, they dated and married. All good.



It's this friend's reaction to them that caused me pause. She finds their Christianity 'excludes' her and her kids and her grandkids. The discomfort in her was palpable. I was sad to hear of it. Her descriptions of them 'sound like' classic legalistic church-dwellers that never leave the fold and are very hard on all who don't measure to the standards they impose if one ever tries to join their fold. Whether or not THEY are legalistic big stick country-clubbers or not is irrelavent. I am not judging, Jesus. Neither them, nor anyone whose likeness may be included in the painting above. That's Your job. YOU know their hearts and ONLY You KNOW their intent. This whole post is about the 'type' that they seem to be and the irreverant and unfortunate perversion of Your mission among so many that call themselves my sisters and brothers.

THEY are not the point, she IS. Her exposure to their attitude has put her off You ! She's a very typical American in that regard. Some of Your most zealous and "goodgirl" "goodboy" kids make my work for YOU, three times harder to approach.

Thanks for being there for me, Jesus. Thanks for being an 'AI': ALL INCLUSIVE respite for us broken and "badgirl" "badboy" sinners. I've been falling on Your grace for so long that _I_ can't stand that kind of Christian either. They embarrass and oppose my long-in-the-tooth understanding of Your grace. Not advocating disobedient licentiousness here... just opposed to the 'Modern Day Pharisee' who usually also carries a big stick and a bigger mouth. They get noticed because they seek accolades for their self-abasing legalism, which results in a mirror that reflects a liar.

BLESS ALL THESE of whom I speak with fuller understanding of Your INCLUSIVITY, Jesus, for Your GLORY !!! INCLUDING myself. AMEN !!!


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