Just after sunset one summer night several of us were working on a mural on the side of a building in our neighborhood. The mural featured Jesus carrying a baby, pulling a wagon full of kids with toys, and several children following after him.
While we were working, a local prostitute (obviously stung out on drugs) staggered briskly down the other side of the street. She hollered out at us, "That Jesus is F***ing AWESOME!" and continued on her way. At that point there was no sense in continuing to paint as we could do nothing but laugh hysterically and pack up for the night.
As Christians we're used to words such as "awesome," "wonderful," majestic," and the like to describe God. They roll off out tongue but don't always connect with the awe and wonder and mystery that we so easily miss in the chaos of daily living. We get distracted by traffic and television and personal crisis and debates about what color the new carpeting at the church should be, burying the sense of awe and wonder of who God is and what Jesus has done for us and how the Holy Spirit continues to move each day.
How can we live each day with the passion for Jesus expressed as freely and unashamedly as our local prostitute that night? Do we sometimes become so habitual with our faith that there's no room for wonder? If we realized that Jesus is even more than "effing awesome" and lived it out in our daily activities what would our lives be like? Our churches be like? Our world be like?
Jesus, fill us with awe for You. Help us to live in the wonder and mystery that You are and invite all to live in Your indescribable presence each moment.
The young lady of the evening and her comments reminded me of Rahab in the Old Testament. Her encounter with God also touched her heart in ways that she had a hard time conveying in words what she was feeling. The young lady of "Pigtown" was expressing a great complement in her own way.. I am so glad you chose to take it as that and not judge her lack of knowing how to express what she was feeling! Love shines when we recognize that "others" who may not yet know the living Christ recognize the awesomeness that is, regardless of the situation.
ReplyDeleteJesus Arms Open Wide.... Just As I Am I come...All to Jesus I surrender...What ever the words of the song...we began to be just programmed so early in life...too, truly let go and see the vision that this one women felt as she took in the Jesus carrying the child in his arms, or the following children in the mural, this was the message that spoke to her. Thank you for sharing her testimony as Christ reveal himself to her along her journey.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! and so relevant to any culture struggling with the demands of daily living and trying to do it with God's input. Sometimes it's best to 'tell it like it is'! Thanks for sharing the testimony and giving us something to think about as we all journey together.
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