The way up is the way down

It really bugs me God

that life doesn't come with a handbook

I always thought it would have been nice

if you would have given me a little tome

Tips for the Road

I spent so much time trying to do it right

I was taught

by well meaning parents

and well meaning pastors

that this was the way to go

strive

do it right

follow the rules

I learned a spirituality of perfection

and I was miserable

and frankly....

well frankly I became spiritually challenged

But you taught me a big lesson God

somewhere along the way

You taught me that it is OK to strive

and work to do and be my best

but you taught me it is also OK to fail

and forgive

and include imperfection

For God it has been from the depths

that I have been able to reach feebly for the heights

Thank you God for the spirituality of imperfection

For teaching me that I grow spiritually much more

by doing it wrong than by doing it right (thank you Richard Rohr)

it is when I fall apart

and my carefully engineered life collapses

it is in losing, failing, falling, in sin

that I find the mystery of grace

and you

 

the way down

my God

is often the way up

to grace

and to You.