We tried to find answers, but found doctrine.
We now seek wisdom, and are finding Life.
We tried to live good lives, but found frenzy.
We now listen for the Inner Voice, and are finding Peace.
We tried to be devout, but found empty religion.
We now dance with the Divine and are finding Contentment.
Throughout my faith journey I have always had the strange healing experience in seeing others devoted to Jesus and living a life faithful to God.
In my 10 years of faith, I’ve walked into church hung over. I’ve walked into church hating myself. I’ve walked into church after just watching pornography. I’ve walked into church after cussing out my mom.
Like most of you, I’ve walked into church with some dirty, unhealthy, lazy, self-righteous, painful experiences.
And I usually didn’t leave those church services having some great spiritual encounter with God and somehow walking away feeling clean, pure and satisfied. I usually left, comforted by the faith of friends, and uncomfortable with my own stupidity.
In Mark 2:4-5 it’s written, “And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’”
Missio Dei is a place where in your imperfections you can find refuge in others. We are a community that welcomes all people, no matter their race, class or sexual orientation and offer an invitation to acknowledge a God of infinite love. In solidarity we stand with one another in doubts and in brokenness, but also in one another’s faithfulness. We are place that doesn’t just welcome the skeptic, cynic and seeker, but who’s core is made up of all three.
Together as we define our identity, may it be known that we see ourselves as a hospital not a country club.