Our God is kind of wild, he is a God of irony, a God of contradiction.
If God is just, then he must punish all who have wronged his kingdom. But we know a God of grace that does not punish all who have wronged his kingdom.
If God is sovereign, his role is to reign. But we know a God of kindness who plays the role of Father and Friend.
If God is perfect, then he cannot dirty his hands with imperfection. But we know a God of love who draws the imperfect close and makes them clean.
If God is great, he has the capability to create the stars, the cells, and everything in between. But we know a God of humility who entered his creation as a baby.
He also calls us to be people in contradiction.
He calls us to love our enemies.
He calls us to choose into the harder situations.
He calls us to find joy amidst sorrow.
As we are the most overwhelmed by our enemies, he calls us to realize that we are actually the most embraced by Him.
I am reminded of our abuela.
Our abuela, Maria Elena, lives in the tortilla shop next to our bus stop with her husband and our abuelo, Guadeloupe. Abuela has at least 4, possibly 5 now, ulcers along her right leg starting at her ankle. She is on her feet all day, she essentially manages the whole business. She walks with a limp, causing more pain in the opposite hip that has already been damaged by a stroke. She leans over tables and stoops down frequently, cooking, cleaning, and serving her children and grandchildren. This causes her immense amounts of pain in her back. Her house is filled with smoke from the fires that cook tortillas and bread, and her bedroom is lit by a single lightbulb in the center of the darkness.
We frequent her house daily, we say hello, we buy the bread that abuelo makes, and we play soccer and eat ice cream with Evelyn, one of their (real) grandchildren. She carries the joy of the Lord in her smile, and her close hugs and cheek kisses. The way that she puts out 9 chairs every time we arrive and her command in the kitchen gives the illusion that her body is strong and authoritative.
It may look like she’s surrounded by pain and suffering, but she’s enveloped in the hope and delight and confidence of the Lord.
Thanks God for Abuela, and thanks God that I get to live a life that is contradictory to the ways of the world.
When I am fearful, he says I am a vessel of peace.
When I am in shackles, he says I am the most free.
When I am in pain, he says I am healed and held.
It may look like I’m surrounded, but I’m surrounded by you.
