My Life Happened Across The Pages

I got a new one a couple of weeks ago.

For my birthday.

Completely unmarked.

Undisturbed gold page edges.

Brand new.

Nothing personal about it.

A complete stranger to me.

My new Bible.



The one I'll be setting aside.

It's been with me for almost ten years.

I've glued the binding back in place twice already.

Every page.

(well......except for that passage in Ephesians on submitting.)

(I struggle there a little.)

Every page shows evidence.

That I spent time there.

Marked up.   Dated.     Notes penciled in the margins.

My life.

Happened across those pages.

Good times.

Penciled in with dates & notations.

Wedding.

Family vacations.

Kenya trips.

Graduations.

Birthdays.

Answered prayers.



And tough times.

Losses.

Cancer.

Doubt.

Struggles.

Uncertainty.

Waiting.

Unanswered prayers.



And with the good times.

And the tough times.

Was also a lot of everyday life.

My life.


More years than I'd care to admit.

I didn't pick it up with regularity.

But when that changed.

I found more life.

And peace.

And meaning.

And purpose.

Across...... those pages.

Now.

It's an old friend to me.

And I rarely miss opening it up in my mornings.



It's a little sentimental....I know.

The attachment.

So.

I'm carefully closing it up.

With all my life inside.

I'll give the new one a chance.

I know it's time.

And I'll be thankful.

For more of life to live.

Across.

New pages.

What is Obvious on Me?

In a world full of people.

Like me.

That long for peace.

Peace in my days.

And peace as I rest at night.

In a world full of people.

Like me.

That long for something meaningful.

To invest in.

That search for purpose.

In the day-to-day.




I don't have to look very far.

To see a world full of people.

Like me.

That need Him.

And if He doesn't show up.

On those of us that carry His name.

What does that say about us?

What does that say about me?



Because.

He's not in a political party.

Or in the finger pointing, judgmental that use His name.

He's not in the legalistic.

Self-righteous.

And He's not in a neatly wrapped up box.

Where religious people try to confine Him.




He gets involved in the messy.

And gives hope.

To a world full of people.

Like me.

Messed up.

Flawed.

Full of faults.



When people see me.

Do they see anything of Him?

Does He show up on me?



Do I show.

That He is good?

And only wants what's best for me.

That He is so personal?

And reveals Himself  in ridiculously small and ordinary ways.

That He's full of grace?

And quick to offer forgiveness.

That He pursues my heart?

Even when I don't want to be pursued.

That He wants a relationship with me?

Even when I push Him to the far corners of my day.

That He is patient?

When I doubt for the millionth time that He'll come through.

That He's promised to always be with me?

Even when its easier.

To believe I'm totally on my own.

That He loves me?

Really loves me.

Unconditionally.

Completely.

Better than anyone else possibly could.




That's what a world full of people.

Like me.

Needs.

To see Him.

Through us.

Through me.