March 16, 2007

I attended a provocative play titled “Redbooks” this week. Most of the words of the play were selected verbatim from interviews with over 200 people about their relationship to Ellen White. My daughter was even listed as an interviewee although she said her words weren’t in the play.
This play showed how emotionally involved we have been in creating and protecting the image of this woman. And Solomon does say that ‘a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.’ We forget that imperfections do not equate a bad name.

We easily believe that our focus is her words, but it usually is our belief in the implications of those words that get us into trouble with each other. We make little, rigid boxes out of our ideas that preclude too many possibilities.

For instance, if a child doesn’t like mushrooms, once that ingredient is identified the food will be rejected, no matter what it tastes like. Life is much simpler when it is either all one way or all another. Exceptions make our world more complicated.

I believe God deals with me as a unique instance rather than as a general rule. This doesn’t make Him inconsistent. It does model a way of appreciating each person in his/her own context. That allows you to shape your own space rather than having to fit into mine.

I want to work with big boxes – or maybe no boxes at all. I want to let who you really are inform my understanding rather than allowing my lack of understanding to limit what you can be.

But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they won’t believe me. They will ask, ‘Which god are you talking about? What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” God replied, “I AM THE ONE WHO ALWAYS IS. Just tell them, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:13-14

Rejoicing in hope,
Pastor Steve