waiting for perfection?
November 9, 2010
Subconsciously I think that’s why I don’t write much these days. Because it’s not perfect. Life is hard. And somewhere that I haven’t found yet there is a balance between “woe is me” pity and quiet acceptance that suffering is real in all of our lives. I pray for the quiet acceptance, and even the joy born of being transformed and pried away from all the things I cling to for security.
One of the sweet things these last few months has been the ability to READ again, and I’m not talking textbooks and journal articles here. I’m reading Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women (Author Geraldine Brooks) today, and realizing, ashamed, yet again, that my world is so small. I recently finished Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream (Author David Platt). I think I underlined half the book. Really. I’d heard all the hype about the audio series and book, and I don’t really like fads (I thought I hated 3/4 sleeves shirts when they came out too. Turns out I like them. I don’t, however, think you will every catch me in skinny jeans). But, seriously, I think if you live the West, and especially in the USA, you should read this book. It’s true, convicting, enlightening. We live insulated, self-protecting, self-exalting lives, and we like to pass it off as good and moral and Christian while there is a world dying for food and the Bread of life. And it’s wrong. I’ve SEEN that world, and I still struggle with this. It’s a battle for our souls, this pull of money and status and career and security. I want my treasure to be elsewhere. It’s not going to just happen, though. We have to go to war for it. Which brings me back to point a, of not feeling “ready”, perfected, equipped for the battle. Lies again. Oh for courage to stand up again, to persevere on!
