I’ve done it again. I’ve preached a bunch of times about the time I missed a burial service for a member’s father in my first call. How I failed and there was absolutely nothing I could do to fix the situation accept take accountability for my mistake and validate for the family that they deserved so much better than what I had offered (or not offered) them and to contritely and sincerely apologize.
Well, this last Saturday, I was supposed to be the Dean that installed a new pastor in our area as she begins her call at a local lutheran congregation. I showed up thinking I had ten minutes to quickly robe and get my leader’s guide. I wasn’t presiding over the service and I wasn’t preaching but I did have a part to play in actually installing this new pastor. I arrived and heard the sound of chanting in the sanctuary. Are they having a rehearsal? A colleague of mine was standing outside, rocking her three month old baby and I asked, “What is happening?”
She said, “We’re starting communion.”
“What time did this service start?!” I asked. “It started at three!” It was ten minutes to four.
I was confronted again by the fact that I am wildly imperfect. That despite my best attempts and efforts, I fail. Not once, not twice, but over and over again.
I stood in the back of the church, frustrated and embarrassed. But then it was time for communion and while I really wanted to just turn on my heels and leave, I stayed and walked up and received the body and blood of Jesus and heard again that what God wants is actually our wildly imperfect selves…that’s it. Don’t wait until you get it right, just show up, mistakes and all. Don’t marinate in your shame for too long. Apologize when necessary and then let God’s mercy do its thing.
We’re living through hard times and much is required of us as people who follow Jesus in these days. There is more to be done than any one person can possibly do as our parents age or our children grow, as our nation moves forward in fits and starts through a period of great struggle, as we navigate illness and change and all manner of things.
Hear this and hear it clearly. You are not required to move through this time with any amount of perfection. You are permitted to show up wildly imperfect…to church, to your friends, to your family, to your nation. Just do the hard thing of showing up in the first place and then my dear ones, let God’s mercy take it from there.
I look forward to showing up with you as we host Interfaith Shelter and the folks who will come to us for rest and shelter. I look forward to joining with you in song and prayer in worship on Sundays. I look forward to collecting non-perishable food and funds for the Souper Bowl of Caring on Feb. 8th (Go Seahawks!) to feed our food-insecure neighbors through Loaves and Fishes/OBEF. Let’s show up…together…imperfectly, letting God’s mercy and grace take us from there!
Peace,
Pastor Bekki