As I followed the kids across the parking lot into church yesterday, we were a sight to be seen. Samantha wore her light up high tops with Frozen socks pulled up over her knees, and her sundress. The tango of respect and being Sam.
When Samantha thinks of God, I want her to know she can bring her whole self. It has hit me lately that we often say, “Come as you are,” but that can’t be the message that we pour out only later in life, if during their entire childhood stuff them into our own expectations. I need my kids to know that they can bring their whole selves to God now, if I want them to know it forever.
Is our message sometimes, “Come as you are, but pull it together,” or “Be yourself…almost”?
When Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest,” there was no request that we pull anything together or fix ourselves first. It was purely an invitation to come.
Being who we “should” be, rather than who we authentically are right now, is ingrained in us as we are told to, “Put on our Sunday best,” but what our God wants is just you. God already knows your life is messy and that you would like it to look different. Come as you are or you will be forever, “Getting ready to get ready.”
So as I follow these kids that I love into the building on Sunday, I won’t make them take off the puffy vest that is over their polo shirt (even though it is 85 degrees) because in asking my sweet Henry to take it off, I am only worried about myself and how his attire reflects on me. I won’t ask Graham to take off the bracelets that are up to his elbows, even if he does look like a Justin Bieber wannabe.
I will hold loosely to these sweet people that I get to walk into these church doors so that my message to them is, “Come as you are,” a message I hope rings true in their hearts forever.
This is the free life…the “Come as you are” life. The truest message of how Jesus wants you to run into His arms today, not tomorrow or once this messy stage of life is over and you have your life together. Jesus wants you just as you are, today. He wants you to come. He wants to meet you in your mess just as you are. Today, tomorrow, forever. Just come.
