Former American Press staff writer Sunny Brown Farley writes "Naked Faith," a look at faith in its natural form: lived out in the day-to-day lives of ordinary people.

A Mess

Posted November 7, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Filed Under Faith & Religion | 1 Comment

I recently went to a church that is pastored by a man who is a friend of mine.

It happened to be a communion Sunday so I went to the altar, knelt, stretched out my cupped hands and received the sacrament.

It’s strange, clergy people become quite nervous performing their clergy duties around other clergy. I think we all feel a bit insecure and subject to judgment by those who know what it is we are supposed to do and say as part of the liturgy of the Church.

And so, I held out my hands to receive the bread and instead of a small piece of bread, received a handful of crumbs. My friend somehow crumbled the communion. All but a small, squished piece of bread spilled through my fingers and onto the altar.

***

Holy Communion is a time when we share an experience with Christ. We are reminded of his life, his suffering and his death. We are reminded that we are not alone in our faith, but rather are part of a great community of believers who have gone before us and are with us now – brought together in unity through Christ.

As I looked down at the crumbs on the altar, I thought about the One whose life and blood was spilled for me and for all.

I saw a mess. The mess before me was a reminder that ours is a messy faith. There is nothing neat and clean about the crucifixion – the sacrifice that is atonement for the sins of humankind.

Our faith is messy still. God chooses to use imperfect people to achieve his good purpose in the world.

Those of us who are Christians, including Christian leaders, are as messy as they come. Though we crumble and spill, God’s grace and love work in and through us still – sometimes in spite of us.

***

I picked up and ate the crumbs from the altar. I prayed, thanked God, meditated on messiness and something incredible happened, I was sustained. That’s the other special thing about communion: It is sustenance for us in our faith journey.

Thank you God for working perfectly through the messes.

Comments

One Response to “A Mess”

Dee on December 31st, 2009 6:47 pm

What an awesome word. It’s a blessing to know that even in our messes, God intervened in our behalf. The Word of God says, and I paraphrase, that “God will perfect those things which concerneth Him and you.” So all that we need from God is already in the making!

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