Imperfect Stars

While doing 100 things at once I hastily sketched stars for tomorrow’s worship.  I made 75 copies before truly noticing the stars' glaring imperfections.   

Practically perfect in every no way

Good gravy, Katie.  These are for the public.  How will the magi arrive in Bethlehem IF THESE ARE THE STARS GUIDING THEM?  

There may be a dramatic crescendo to those questions.  After all:  They're paper stars.  This is small potatoes.  But it didn't feel small.  

Showing imperfections rarely does.  

We've all got imperfections, but letting others see can be painful.  Small potatoes imperfections aren't a big deal, but perhaps they remind us of bigger imperfections--envy, pride, selfishness, greed, or refusal to forgive.  And we don't want people to see those imperfections because what will they think?

So we settle for projecting what we want people to see. 

This helps no one, and can cause us to persist in those bigger imperfections--which is ironic since vulnerability is one of the most freeing paths TO repentance!  Vulnerability is not easy, but showing and telling breaks the power of shame.  

This is good news (!), and in healthy churches vulnerability is heard by others with compassionate ears.  We then walk together through the thick of it, and point each other to God's grace.  

So...in an attempt to listen to my own sermon (I try this on occasion) I cut out the imperfect stars and stuffed them in tomorrow's worship folders.  May they remind you (and me) to be vulnerable.