Day 86 - Out of Order

I was in church this morning, and I must first say that I appreciate the creativity of the worship team for coming up with the different themes and such for service.  Today's theme was "Law and Order," and so the sermon was actually a skit that included a court case and some songs.  Jesus was on trial for breaking the law and Judge G.O.D was presiding.  As the Judge gave the verdict, he talked about how religious folks tend to focus on the word and letter of the law, but God's focus is a little different.  In talking about the actions of Jesus, he said, "It may have been out of 'order,' but it was in God's will.  God cares less about rules and more about relationship."
Now, being that love is the major focus of my life, it is clear that, whatever your religious affiliation may be, Jesus is a beautiful example of showing love that worked radically against society and the "norm."  Despite laws and rules and traditions that should have hindered, Jesus courageously showed love by healing people on the Sabbath, proclaimed forgiveness for sins, and even stopped judgment for the woman caught in adultery.  And as any good Christian, it's my desire to follow the example of Jesus in my own life.
So this got me thinking about the way that we experience life and love.  Do we let society and rules and stereotypes dictate who and how we love?  Do we fight being authentic in the name of someone else's prescription of who we should be and how we should act?  Do we let someone's race, gender, class, economic background, social status, or anything else like that stop us from loving someone or even entering relationship with them, even if we feel God may be leading us to that person?  Is there someone you should reach out to or trust a little more that you are afraid to because you're concerned about what others will think?  What healing and love are you cutting up from your life because of fear?
I would encourage you to embrace love in whatever form it comes.  While we as people place restrictions on who and how we can love, God knows no such boundaries.  If we are open to it, God will even send people into our lives who we don't expect to love in order to teach us the most profound, beautiful lessons of love.  I have found had some sisters in my life who I have loved and been more intimate with than any man in my life.  While I wasn't expecting that much love from a woman, God has blessed me, and I'm glad to have received the love that I needed.  While it may raise an eyebrow or concern or a religious stigma, I know that God blessed me with the people in my life in the way that they are they in my life, and I refuse to be limited in the way that God moves because other people feel some type of way.
Embrace love however it comes to you.  Don't be afraid of boundaries that are not true to your heart and soul.  Be open and let love free you and heal you as it's intended to do.  Build relationship and let God (not religion, not society, not the Church) lead the way.