Ah, the craving to be known. A desire to be understood. The need for relationship. I've read that it is utterly human yet absolutely divine as well. I find it interesting that somehow God uses dead ends almost disguised as a means to bring us all longing for relationship with Him.
Most are often too busy mulling about their own business, their own solitary lives to take the more-than-a-minute they need to find out more about another. Okay, wait. I take that back. Not everyone is like that, but I certainly live in a society where maintenance is our highest priority. Where we make sure everything sits in its proper place, everything is in order and is oh-so-pretty on the outside before we take the time to reach out our hand to help another who may have fallen down.
I am one of them; they are me. It's a lonely existence.
To be freed from loneliness, from despair, we need to leave our safe little corner of the world in search of a caring community.
But... I do know what it means to live in an authentic, caring community.
Over the last few years, I've begun to embrace the reality of transparency and leave the pulpit with theory. It's a life of vulnerability and true exposure. A life where I embrace the emotional. One where I have allowed the walls to come down so I can be known.
But it's still second nature to get caught up in the nitty-gritty. I still want my perfectly trimmed lawn, a spic and span kitchen and my kids to be wally and beaver cleaver.
I come undone when I see how far I am from attaining those "dreams". I feel imperfect. It's a dead end.
I'm being reminded of who I am, where I am, and that there is One (who actually is perfect) that still wants to be with me. This perspective allows me to see that there are others who also need a shoulder to cry on, a hand to hold, someone to care... And I can be that someone for them.
So yah, I'm not perfect. But then on this planet, no one really is.
