more vacation lessons...

In this time away... I find myself with more time to read...
in my current reads... I find reason to rest...
in imperfection...
and those who are lost...

The first lesson I find in Eugene Peterson's... The Jesus Way...

The way of David is the way of imperfection. The story of David lived and the psalms he prayed provide us with an imagination that is capable of understanding the operations of God to do his perfect work in us, not our capacities to perfect ourselves. The stories tell us that nothing about us, whether good or bad, is without significance; the prayers tell us that everything within us, whether good or bad, has to do with God. The stories and prayers together free us from a role and performance mentality, free us from the perfectionist expectations of others and perfectionist ambitions we set for ourselves.

---Eugene Peterson, The Jesus Way

Peterson explains... through David's stories and psalms... how it's OK to be imperfect... we actually have no power to change our imperfections... but God sent Jesus in order to forgive... and... heal...

I'm one who has struggled with perfectionism... beat myself up more times than I care to admit... set standards impossible to keep...

I've learned to rest in His grace... but Peterson... through David... taught me we are not called to be perfect in and of ourselves... in fact we cannot achieve perfection... but God... He is at work in our imperfect ways... to reveal and heal... to forgive and redeem...

With each work we allow Him to complete... we become more complete in Him...
just like David... an imperfect man... inside and out... but a man after God's own heart...

The next book with a lesson... a novel... The Calling... by Rachelle Dekker... a post-apocalyptic work... a struggle between legalism... the Authority... as the way of salvation... and the Father... as the way of freedom... Aaron the Jesus-figure... the teacher leading the "rebels" to freedom...

The battle is great... lives are lost... Carrington the heroine... she mostly gets the truth... Remko her beloved husband and leader of the rebels on the run... suffers doubt...

She thought back to the last conversation she'd had with Aaron. It had been a couple weeks ago; he'd walked with her alone, sensing her anxiety. Her uneasiness. She'd been worried about Remko; he'd stopped sleeping regularly. Even when he was with her, a part of him was somewhere else.

"He will find his way," Aaron had said.

"You keep telling me that, but as the days pass I wonder if he's only becoming more lost."

"Being lost is part of the journey."

---Rachelle Dekker, The Calling

In my own life... I watch loved ones struggle... seemingly lost...
and I find comfort... the ability to rest...
in the truth... Being lost is part of the journey...

Jesus came to seek the lost...
and in our lostness... He finds us...

I can think back on my own journey... and see this truth...

Finding unexpected rest...
in imperfection...
and being lost as part of the journey...

More vacation lessons...
during the time away...
but not away from Him...