40 Days of Purpose
Wednesday, Day 19
I had approximately 3 minutes notice. A coworker was going to bring a 10-year old girl by my desk to see a “real journalist” at work.
I work best in an orderly area but the schedule and stress of the last few months have left their telltale marks on my office space: three coffee cups, a small mountain of article drafts and sticky notes.
I've been meaning to address this mess for weeks. Ok, probably for more than a month.
Suddenly on autopilot, I shuffled the stack of papers and folders, order semi-restored. Sitting back in my chair, a puzzling thought emerged. Why didn't I do this earlier? What is it about a stranger (even a 10-year old) seeing my mess that motivates me to clean up and act as if this tidy version is the everyday truth?
I believe it reveals yet another of my default settings. I don't want people to see the true mess in my life – the many cracks where the glare of brokenness shines through.
The woman in this week’s passage, John 8:1-12, was caught red-handed. She didn't have time to hide or tidy up the scene of her crime. My heart goes out to her. This woman was exposed. Moreover, her choice to rebel against God was exploited by the Pharisees in an unmerciful way.
Do you do that to others? Has someone done that to you?
Today, remember the hope of Easter – an invitation to discover the lover of our soul, yet our Savior wants us to admit our need for Him. Are you willing to express your weakness and failures to God and to others, or do you prefer to hide?
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