Finding the Sacred in Unexpected Spaces

 




Sometimes Messy Middle Living means stepping out in faith by entering sacred spaces that you once considered unholy. As I type the words of this blog I am en route to one of those spaces. I am traveling  to my second Revoice Conference. It was about a year ago that I first entered this space with trepidation, fear, & a great deal of excitement.  When I entered that space I was still holding onto many preconceived notions about what is a wonderfully diverse, gifted, loving, & holy (yes Holy) gathering of Christ followers.


To be candid this year I am feeling many of those same feelings with one HUGE addition: I enter with an informed expectation that I will experience community, encounter grace, & hear from God through my LGBTQIA+ siblings in Christ who call this wonderful “Side B” community family.


What I expect to experience is nothing less than what those who met Jesus along the way in His earthly journey experienced. Perhaps I will find myself in the seat of the woman caught in adultery who was met with true grace unlike she had ever imagined. Perhaps like the Samaritan woman at the well, my journey will reveal the deepest innermost fears & failures of my life in order to use them as a catalyst to point more people to His salvation. Maybe I, like Zaccaeus will hear my name called as I place myself in a position to meet Jesus along the journey. 


What I pray I don’t experience, though I am willing to face whatever comes if the Spirit knows it is what I need, is the chastising we see directed towards the religious leaders of Jesus’ day because they decided to focus on the sin of others instead of  holding up a mirror to see their own. Whatever lies ahead, it is my prayer that it will cause me to Love My God and my fellow humans more deeply, fully, and completely.


Lord speak to me as continue to be committed to the beauty of living in this messy middle space where you desire to challenge me/us to live this life of unconditional love for ALL!




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