Day 25: Move your body

Exodus 25-27; Psalm 25

The tabernacle is REAL specific. Parts have to be an exact length. Materials need to be of a certain kind. It’s like building the Star Wars or Harry Potter sea of LEGO’s. The place where God dwells isn’t a haphazard place. It’s a unique, specific, sacred space that requires awareness, care and a vision of what’s to come. Thank Jesus we don’t have to make tabernacles to have the presence of God among us. Because of Jesus and his love, we get to have the Holy Spirit that can dwell in us because we are the temple.

Do we treat our temple with as much care, awareness and vision of what’s to come? Is our temple in constant process? Is it already perfect for God to dwell? It’s both. We are already holy to host God in us, yet have room to keep becoming the holy place where God dwells. How can we treat our bodies, our minds, our souls with a celebration of what is present and a desire for growth to what will come? May we know our bodies, all its specifics and sacredness. May we honor our bodies and see its power and beauty. May we bring our temple to places to make them radiant and not make the place worst. We don’t do that by doing, but by being whole and loved without pushing the place where we’re at to love us. If we can act and live as if we are already enough and holy and loved, how much less will we take and demand of everyone and everything and how much more will we simply want to give of ourselves?

Treat your body like a temple. Nothing that comes in it will defile it. But don’t be taking that for granted. Don’t devalue it by disrespecting it. You know that ick feel when you do that. Or when others so unjustly do that to you. But what can your body do for others?

Day 2: It’s his fault.

Genesis 4-7; Psalm 2

Often when I don’t get what I want or the fruits of my labor are not as abundant as I had expected, I blame everyone except myself. It’s not my fault. I get angry at someone who’s doing well even though their success has NOTHING to do with mine. It’s easier to take out my own negativity and bad mood on some one else who is thriving. It’s easier to blame circumstances and declare I would obviously be a better person if my circumstances were better.

It’s damn convicting. When does a disappointing reflection of myself humble me and make me draw closer to God? When does a real look at myself that I don’t like draw me into bitter unproductive comparison? The latter makes me bitter and angry. It distances me from others. The former is uncomfortable and vulnerable.

God doesn’t compare me and others. He has enough space and enough love for all of us. Can I trust that?