Magnificence Unchanging

Photo: Tyann Clement and Artists of Houston Ballet in The Nutcracker. Photo by Amitava Sarkar.

Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.

2 Corinthians 4:18

Sometimes we get discouraged. Things can begin to feel "churchy," and not like authentic God, radical faith, or free, unconditional love. Our vision of community suddenly feels marred. We may find ourselves feeling disillusioned and disenchanted. How do we get past this?

How do we not get so disappointed that we abandon our faith or walk out on the church?

Try thinking of a beautiful ballet such as, The Nutcracker.

Watching it, we are mesmerized. We are able to forget about our troubles as we are taken away; enthralled by the story and moved by the music that rhythmically mirrors the emotions stirring within in our hearts.

But sometimes things don't go as planned. The backdrop falls, the dancer fails to complete a pirouette, our seats are near the stage and we see the director communicating with his team...and with the abrasiveness of a broken record, the moment feels ruined and we're forced to enter the present.

Could it be that God might want to say that the body of Christ is sometimes like that? Not that it's a "production," but that we shouldn't let knowing what it took to create something so magnificent, take away from what is still "undeniably" magnificent?

Could God be saying that we will, at times, in the body of Christ, encounter things such as "process," entangled communications, roadblocks, unchristian-like attitudes, and things that perhaps seem "off" in their execution or are just never what we envisioned, but that we mustn't let these things take away from the heart of how magnificent the body of Christ is...and will always be?

Backstage and behind the scenes is simply, "a view of the 'imperfectness' of humanity and the 'work in progress' that we all are...it doesn't mean that the beautiful moments and the wonderful times are ever "fake"...it just means that the true beauty of the church is the brokenness coming together in unity and harmony to create those moments of oneness in His Presence that we'll never forget.

It is through His eyes of grace, that we can overlook inconsistencies.

It is through His tender mercies that we are not consumed by the trivial.

It is through His ears and His heart that we can hear the hurtful and offer forgiveness.

It is through His unconditional love that we keep reaching out when we are weak.

It is through His humbleness that we are able to no longer think of how we're affected but instead focus on how we're "affecting."

It is through our faith, perseverance and commitment that we never stop believing and "giving up" becomes no longer an option.

It is through the power of love that light breaks through the darkness and living waters that bring healing, begin to flow.

It is by His sacrifice that we no longer condemn; having been made free from sin and death; having been given new life; eternal and everlasting.

"God is in the making," says Esther Simon. Beauty and love transcend what the eyes can see and the heart can feel. Just as witnessing a minor glitch in the midst of The Nutcracker doesn't change how magnificent the ballet is, neither should discovering the imperfection amongst us change the magnificence of the body of Christ. We must focus on what we know is true...and that is always one thing...how the story ends.

For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood [by God]. 1 Corinthians 13:12 (Amplified Bible)

Heavenly Father,

Forgive us for the times we allow doubt and discouragement to take up residence in our hearts.

Forgive us when we fail to believe that You are BIG ENOUGH.

Forgive us for expecting the church to be perfect ...for it is perfect when we look at it through Your eyes.

Thank you Father that we can see the beauty of Your heart played out in the pages of the Bible.

Thank you for always giving us "grace to grow" and for never getting impatient.

You are a majestic God and what You create is truly magnificent.

To You Be the Glory.

Forever and Ever,

Amen