Standing at a Distance
Honesty. Transparency. Humility. Vulnerability.
What do these words conjure up in you?
Generally speaking, each of these tend to be found toward the end of the alphabet of our society’s values. It’s likely due to the fact that trust is the foundation for walking each of these out. Our society is one that prefers to take pictures of all the highlights of our lives, and then carefully curate an award winning timeline on social media. Or we point the camera at the faults and failures of the other team or tribe, then quickly point out how stupid, backwards, and ignorant they are.
It’s easy. It’s tempting. And yes, I have sadly participated in it. The combination of insecurity and puffed up ego plead to be seen and applauded, which is the pull of the sinful nature. No, not human nature, as I have to think that would be offensive to the One who created humanity and said “it is very good.” There is an original goodness that flows as our base, but certainly the sideways nature has spread layers of putrid over the sacred.
In Jesus, spirit is wrapped in flesh and bone, which was an affirmation of the goodness of humanity and materiality. Don’t blame your foot for kicking the dog, it’s your inner bitter Betty which caved, correct?
It’s here that we can choose to run, hide, and pretend it doesn't exist… in us. If we simply highlight how much more it exists in others, this can offer us a distraction from being…
Honest. Transparent. Humble. Vulnerable.
But this season, Lent, is one in which we excavate the soul in order to drag ALL that is lurking in the shadows of our selves, and bring it to the One we cannot escape. It’s already known by the Divine, so why not acknowledge it, deal with it, and then dump it into the arms of forgiveness? In the Divine all of our chaos dissolves and disintegrates into eternity.
Which brings us to another parable, this one told by Jesus.
“Once there were two men who went into the temple to pray. One was a proud religious leader, the other a despised tax collector. The religious leader stood apart from the others and prayed, ‘How I thank you, O God, that I’m not wicked like everyone else. They’re cheaters, swindlers, and crooks—like that tax collector over there. God, you know that I never cheat or commit adultery; I fast from food twice a week and I give you a tenth of all I make.’
“The tax collector stood off alone in the corner, away from the Holy Place, and covered his face in his hands, feeling that he was unworthy to even look up to God. Beating his breast, he sobbed with brokenness and tears saying, ‘God, please, in your mercy and because of the blood sacrifice, forgive me, for I am nothing but the most miserable of all sinners!’
“Which one of them left for home that day made right with God? It was the humble tax collector and not the religious leader! For everyone who praises himself will one day be humiliated before all, and everyone who humbles himself will one day be lifted up and honored before all.” (Gospel of Luke, 18:9-14. The Passion Translation).
In this season of Lent, may we choose to stand at a distance and ruthlessly examine the interiors of our soul. And in humility, may we empty the off course in order to be filled with the Grace and Peace of Christ.
