That's the motto of the church my Dad attends in northern WI. Jon and I were up there last Sunday, and though I've heard the words before, this time they really hit me.
Everybody's welcome. Nobody's perfect. Anything is possible. Do I live that way?
I don't think so. Honestly, in my home and my heart, nobody's welcome. Except for dogs. I love dogs.
Certainly, I don't live with the permeating grace of a person who understands the imperfection of humanity, and herself.
Though I would claim to believe in God's great and limitless power -- I don't think I live as though it's true, you know? Not for myself, not for others.
The sermon last Sunday was given by a friend of my Dad's -- a former Lutheran pastor who had an affair that lead to the loss of his job, his standing with the Lutherans, his family of course, etc. So when he gave this sermon about getting lost along life's ways, about how getting lost can be a short detour, or a season of overwhelming sinfulness, I was riveted. The humility, and the courage that it takes to stand up in front of a group of people (Christians no less!) and wonder aloud at what would have happened had you followed God where instead you chose to sin, to talk so openly about the dissolution of your marriage, the tender and painful moments of separation... even with the eventual triumph, his sharing was a mind-blowing act of self-sacrifice and leadership
He said this thing about how there can be no happiness without holiness. So simple, so..duh. And yet. I absolutely try to find happiness without much of a thought to holiness. Not that I'm like smoking crack or separating babies from their Moms or anything. But I'm also not opening my home and my wallet to folks who need it. I'm not standing up for the weak and disenfranchised. I'm not volunteering my time (much), or digging deep into God's love to give it out. I live mostly for me.
So...no happiness without holiness. And what is it to be holy? I think it is many things, but certainly a great place to start is this: Everybody's welcome. Nobody's perfect. Anything is possible.
