and this one was juuuuuust right!

"I had been feeling out-of-place, and suddenly I was in the Right Place, you know?"

I don't remember where I read this, but it rang so true for me.  There is this scene in the movie Sister Act where a young postulant at the convent confesses to Whoopi Goldberg (lounge singer disguised as a nun) that most times she feels like she is 3 seconds behind everyone else, trying to grasp what they see and understand.  Sister Whoopi assures her, "Honey we are all playing catch up."

I often feel that way.  Just a little out of sync.  Just a little behind.  Just a bit distracted or confused or ignorant.  Just a bit 'out-of-place.'  I will admit that I don't think I'm the only one.  I believe that this a fairly common phenomena as each individual finds her way in a larger group, whether it's friends at school or professional colleagues or a group of neighbors.  We are all trying to work out how to be a part of something larger than ourselves.

Usually this involves adjusting and improving ourselves - a process which is grounded in the thought that we do not have it all together, that there are things wrong with each of us, that others know the right way and we are playing catch up.  It is more than self esteem, it is a feeling that you need to improve in order to...fit it?  be loved?  be accepted?

....which is where the good news of Jesus Christ  comes in.  Under girding all the fancy theology is this simple statement:  You are a beloved child of God.  Not a perfect child of God; not the best child of God.  No, I am a beloved child of God.   The love comes from the Great Lover of the Universe and is not dependent on me:  my height, my intelligence, my atheletic ability, my grades in school, my title at work, the amount of money I have in the bank or even....the most miserable thing I did last.  I am loved because God is the Great Lover.

And suddenly, I am in the Right Place.  I am drawn into a life of love.  I have so much more to offer than I could ever have imagined.  I desire to be a wondrous reflection of that love.  The more I remind myself of this love that claims me, the more I am transformed into a more radiant version of myself.

Isn't this the greatest gift you've ever received?  It is so counter to everything of this world that I have to be reminded again and again.  When I am listening closely to Jesus' words of invitation I want to be transformed into ever greater versions of the person God sees and loves.

Don't you know someone who could use to hear this good news?  Isn't it time to share your story with them?  Isn't it time to invite them to Come and See this wondrous lover of the world?