Some mistakes are more pubic than others. Sadly, our response is often from preservation rather than grace. Something in us says, “if you associate, then you endorse”. This is not Christ like. I know this, but struggle to apply it. Love, care and time are reflections of us, not another’s actions. The love of Christ is demonstrated to those without. This does not diminish Christ, but glorifies him. I confess how often I look like the final line.
Thinking of a Friend who Fell
Last night an invisible man fell through the skylight.
For years, day in and out, he observed our rising and resting.
He had been spying on us for a lifetime.
In the storm, we glimpsed a silhouette between the snow and glass
And laughed with dregs at the memories of 12 great years.
Without warning, crash, an avalanche of snow and glass
Wine and blood now mingled in our feast.
Across the table, his broken body, evidence of a man we thought we knew.
One by one, we slip away.
-B. Oaks
“Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.”
“SAME PASSAGE (paraphrased)
You didn’t think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard? Or did you think that because he’s such a nice God, he’d let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he’s not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change. You’re not getting by with anything.”