Elf + If the Gum is Actually Free Candy?

In my heart there is a place where paradox dwells and it confounds me without end.  

Remember that the toilets are ginormous here South of the North Pole and yes, everyone absolutely needs hugs. But do we get to just eat all the gum because “It’s all grace”?  Or do we do some work, sanctification-type, to reveal the Truth of a hidden spiritual reality that’s been under our noses all along?   

Both!! 

I have a friend in the new age community. I am fully aware of how harshly I can judge at times- no, it doesn’t work that way, I say in my head– you don’t just pay $50 and receive a download of Christ consciousness.   

Or does it?     

I was pedaling away on my morning spin sesh, when I felt the correction of my buddy say, “Maybe you are wrong. Maybe they do get all the grace in that fashion, all the mercy, all the LOVE.”  Humbled, because yes, I have no idea how Abba works with the Gentiles “This mystery that through the Gospel, all are heirs together with Israel (us), sharers in the Promises of Christ.”   

And so I recognize that there are always two factors working together because we are to be spiritually mature and also little children. We have gifts that take discernment (prayer and time) and we aren’t to flail around in our freedom potentially harming others without our masks on. (I would know– our manager at the Navy yard emailed lots of exclamation points to that ‘certain someone’ that we are to not take it off indoors no matter what!!!!)   

Even me– no one was around and I was recording a one minute TikTok about Jesus. But someone spied me and decided I was a rule-breaker. Which I totally am and it has been super fun most of the time. But I get it. I’ll not do that again, cause I’m bringing lots of LIGHT to that space.    

You bring your own LIGHT wherever you go– it’s all HIM and it’s all grace and I’m afraid you won’t realize it if you don’t let the dust shake off– the dust of earthly unnatural you. The posturing, the planning, the performing and the worrying keep us from recognizing Who’s right here.

There is absolutely a layer of film over our lenses that needs a good swipe.   

 I hope you are learning to make lots of candy for others from the grief of this time. He redeems our struggle and what was sour is now sweet eternally thanks to the Cross– but in my experience there’s a whole lot me walking and sweating with my cross, or should I say biking it of late….