God’s family is to work out grace that produces peace. That peace is harmony and relationship, and yet too often we experience failure to meet expectations and we hide in isolation. I don’t let others close because if they see me warts and all, they’ll reject me. So we pass on Sunday morning and ask “How are you?” And we are “Fine, oh just fine, everything’s good, keeping busy, doing alright, yeah we’re just fine—fine as fine could be.” But I’m not. I hurt, I’m lonely, I’m not being what I know that I should, and could. I fall short, I don’t measure up, but I’m terrified that if you knew, you’d pull back, turn away, talk to someone else…about me. So, “I’m fine, yeah just fine, keeping busy…doing stuff…doing alright...just…fine.
Grace steps in there, and just gives a hug, an embrace. In the midst of all my protests that I’m really fine, doing okay—its an embrace that says, I love you anyway, I accept you, even knowing what you’re afraid to tell. And if you told me, I won’t turn away, talk to someone else, about you... But we’ll stand here, arm in arm, we’ll face that thing down together. We have to, cause we’re family, and you can’t just break up family, cause it leaves everybody missing something…
