Messy

One of my favorite leaders, Jeff Vanderstelt, said recently, "You know you're on mission when it gets messy."  Who likes messy?  I like things that are clean.  I prefer things with parallel lines where everything is symmetrical.  I like complimentary colors.  My dreams take place in cities with grid-like streets...simple...flat...neat...Texas.  But the mission gets messy.  People who are trying to figure this Jesus thing out are complicated.  They wrestle.  They're honest.  They get frustrated.  They cuss.  They shed tears.  They dance.  They're messy.  And what a beautiful mess it is.  How messy are the people around you?  If you're surrounded by complimentary colors, parallel lines and symmetry, chances are you're not on the mission.  I challenge us all to jump face first into the mess and find ourselves on this glorious, messy mission.  Maybe then we will be brought to our knees together...all on the same playing field.  Then we can realize what a beautiful mess God has made us all to be.  Take a step back from the globs of paint and be awakened to see the mistake of your life becoming something beautiful in the hand of "the great artist."