Punch Line

It was not a stellar moment.  In fact, it was an extreme low.  In a brief moment, I lost track of my values, priorities, and those I love.  In a moment of idiocy, I made a decision I will regret for as long as I remember the event.  To Cherry, Carli, and Whitney, I admit “in an outburst of anger I turned my back on you—but only for a moment.  It's with lasting love that I'm tenderly caring for you.”  (Isaiah 54.8)
Unfortunately, this is not the first time my outburst has hurt those I love.  It happens far more often that I can to admit.  For good reasons and bad, I find myself caught up in the chaos and pressures of the moment.  The connection I love for with God is broken as I strive to make it on my own.  In my passionate choice I lose the very heart of my passion.  The net result is pain, anguish, and a loss that cannot be undone.
Fortunately, my story and ours does not end there.  I found myself apologetic and willing to make amends for my action.  The best antidote for my words was a trail of actions based in love.  They never take away the pain however they do tell of a bigger picture.  They tell a story of caring, engagement, and a willingness to acknowledge moments of forgetfulness.
There are moments when it seems as if God has checked out of our lives.  We struggle to find ourselves in the absence of anything resembling love.  We fight for justice in a world that need mercy.  We love for compassion even in our anger and selfishness.  The story line of our lives is ambiguous even when everything around us seems to be in good condition.
You and I have an opportunity today to reach beyond the immediate to the outstretched arms of the Spirit.  We can connect, even in our pain.  We can respond to others, even in our loneliness.  We can be a difference, even as God recreates our heart and soul.