messy heart.

this is something i’ve been wanting to write about for a while, but since i only have a few minutes to sit down and write, it will probably just write a little preview.

it’s been on my heart lately that i have been mentally protecting certain people from my beliefs, as if saying “oh, yeah that person’s awesome, but they wouldn’t think Jesus is for them. they don’t have any needs, you know. they’re not suffering, they have it all together. they’re good to go for right now.”

WRONG.  COMPLETELY WRONG. and satan would be delighted to have me live this way. for people who love science and research and statistics. Jesus is for you. He created the world, and nothing scientifically proven can or has negated anything He states in His word. Scientific THEORY strays a lot of times, but no piece of factual reality has contradicted with what God says about creation or the world. In fact, Jesus has created quite an exquisite world for the curious, scientific mind. Think of all the intricacies of creation, from the tiniest organisms to the most vast galaxies. Surely He rejoices when our minds delve the mysteries of creation. oh scientist, Jesus is for you. keep searching, He’s got more surprises to give to you as you dig deeper into the amazing facets of creation.

to the artist, the free-thinker, the poet… Jesus is for you as well. look at color, the silouhettes of clouds at dusk or the fact that invisible waves make sounds that can be combined and contorted to make music. think of how words can make people break down into tears. think of tears. think of beauty, and its ability to pierce even the toughest cynic to the core. Jesus surely has created a gorgeous world to romance your creative heart with as well. as we make beautiful things, write beautiful songs, gaze in amazement at nature or other human beings, He is delighted that we can see the purest forms of beauty in what He has designed. oh writer, oh singer, oh freaky artistic hippie love child, Jesus is for you.

to the numbers guys, the people that want concrete black-and-white answers, to the people that don’t have time for feelings or nonsense or anything you believe Jesus to be about… Jesus is not the blond guy holding baby lambs wearing a dress that Renaissance painters portrayed Him to be. Jesus was the warrior that spoke out against injustice, and befriended the tax collectors and prostitutes because He saw that they were human beings in need of validation and salvation. Jesus is both infinite and direct, abstract and explicit, bold and merciful. Jesus has the answers to all of my questions. He is the author of Truth. He. is. not. afraid. of. my. doubts. Jesus is more real than any tangible shred of what we think to be reality. He is closer than our troubles, more near than any threat of danger.

To the CEOs (not that I think any CEOs will read this) who have battered away your hearts and hidden them beneath hard work, self-sufficiency, and endless demands— Jesus is for you.

To the mother who feels trapped in her marriage and feels like it’s her fault— Jesus is for you.

To the leading researcher in psychological studies or tumor biology— Jesus is for you.

To the man who’s cheated on his wife and left his children angry— Jesus is for you.

To the man who wants to cheat on his wife and never will only because of his children— Jesus is for you. and please, it’s not worth it.

To the teacher who stands in front of moldable minds that are starved for validation— Jesus is for you. Who better to help you love on them?

To the person whose parents scorn their lifestyle— Jesus is for you. You are a soul, not a trail of broken boundaries.

To the religious parents who cannot see past their children’s mistakes to the little heart they used to love— Jesus is for you. religion is not for you. Jesus is for you.

Jesus is the only solution to all of the problems that I am.

If you’ve read this and you know Him. know Him more. I want every cell of my body to worship Jesus, not just my mental checklist of things I think i’m supposed to do. Jesus is more vast and complex than i will ever get to know on this side of life, but I can promise you that as i unravel and realize how deeply i’m screwed up, He proves Himself more and more loving, more and more gracious, and more and more willing to fix me.