Matthew 6: 33-34
Life is a mess right now as my wife Sara and I prepare for my book parties this weekend. We talk in terms of "After this weekend, we will ________ (fill in undone or overlooked task here)".
I love this quote from an anonymous Australian woman after the pandemic: “Life is moving and we can stomp our feet in rejection, or we can gracefully embrace the mess, tidying as we go.”
That really sums it up, doesn't it? We have a choice in how we view life. It's always going to be messy, to one degree or another. We can fight the mess, or we can embrace the mess and do what we can.
I had a boss who used to say, "Don't let perfect get in the way of better." This phrase reminds me to do what I can and don't worry whether it's perfect.
What does this have to do with our 7-day practical faith? Tons! One of our major obstacles is worry, in one form or another: Fear, perfectionism, anxiety - these and more can impede our desire and actions to be faithful disciples of Christ.
Jesus knew our tendencies. In Matthew 6: 34, Jesus said:
"Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Let today's own trouble be enough for today."
Breathe, Cecil, breathe. Yes, Jesus is speaking to you!
Jesus wants us to be comfortable with our discomfort, with our messes. In fact, He wants us to practice being comfortable in doing things that are uncomfortable. He has bigger things in mind than whether our to-do list is functioning smoothly. In Matthew 6: 33, the prior verse, Jesus said (and I insert my capitalized comment within):
"Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things (THAT YOU WORRY ABOUT) will be given to you as well."
In calling us away from worry, Jesus is also calling us toward taking risks for His kingdom. No doubt, those steps will be messy. But if we know how to embrace the mess, we can execute them much better.
What mess do you need to embrace today? Please post in the comments!
Here's one more reminder of my book parties. In-person is on Sat., May 20, 2-4 p.m., at Davis Library in Plano. No RSVP is necessary. Online is on Sun., May 21, 7-9 p.m. Central. Please RSVP to me at Cecil@CecilTaylorMinistries.com, and I'll send you the Zoom invitation.