no buts

There’s this sweet little community of writers I know who used to respond in unison – or in harmony – to a common prompt. We called it Finish the Sentence Friday.

We lost track of each other a couple of years ago, but, with the encouragement of Kristi (our founder and prompter) we’re back! Yay for perseverance and returning to something worth preserving.

Today, for our first #FTSF post in a while, we are finishing “I was going to write this, but…”

How timely.

For a while there, I was diligent, writing like mad, posting regularly, hoping to connect with my followers in a real and authentic way. Almost weekly, I poured my heart and head onto the page with wild abandon. I wrote about faith/questioning faith, love, Jesus, writing, teaching/education, bullies, society, culture, fitting in, community, choices, love – topics about which at least 750-900 words were swimming around in my brain, ready to enlighten and inspire a waiting world.

Not all that long ago, though, I realized I was stuck. Stuck on disappointment, frustration, disillusionment, and occasionally anger with a little crazy thrown in. Like I was in a never-ending loop: what is happening? —> that’s impossible —> you’re kidding —> no, wait… I thought I knew them —> what is happening?

Probably not alone, there, huh?

Anyway, I tried writing about some of it. Those ageless controversial subjects about which we have never and will never come to consensus – as if that were required or even possible. I’m not going to list them because that will, of course, trigger someone who is already at the tipping point, and then that will start a whole thing, never to be resolved. It will, however, provide dry kindling, waiting for a spark and more, deeper division.

Which is not what I want to do. Not today, anyway.

So, as I approached I was going to write this, but…, I revisited my favorites:

• faith/questioning faith
• love
• Jesus
• writing
• teaching/education
• bullies
• society
• culture
• fitting in
• community
• choices
• love

I looked back at what topics were frequent flyers, which were merely one-hit-wonders, and which ones I might have to rework to better align with how I’ve changed as a person and as a person who follows the teachings of Jesus.

Bless that little Search engine, it’s not difficult to find my go-to. Love.

Not that I’ve kept the best track-record for loving people, void of contempt, hypocrisy, condescension, or bullying. I have my share of cringe-worthy memories – they often keep me up at night, during that twilight time when it’s almost impossible to concentrate, but when visions of the worst in me are crystal clear.

No, I’m not much of an example, but I know who is. And I know there is nothing more worthy than developing and spreading His love.

No cause or bandwagon has the power.

No march or mission trip or crusade has the impact of a bunch of us regulars just loving people – everyone, all the time, no exceptions. Us regular everyday Joes, rooting judgment out from its hold on our hearts and spreading love like it was our job – which it is.

(Please take note: I said LOVE, not LIKE… liking everyone is asking way too much. End of note.)

Yes, I scrolled through that list, trying to think of something I hadn’t written about. I went from “Is there a recipe I should share?” to “I mean, really, Alex Jones. Really?” to “I can’t imagine wearing anything but leggings for the rest of my life.”

I got nuthin. Nuthin new or exceptional or revolutionary. Or maybe it is….

And this is where I landed: I was going to write this, and there’s no “but”…

I’m writing it. Again and again, and then again, until I get another word.

Love.

So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. Col 3-12-14

Colossians 3:12-14 (the Message)

So, I guess that’s it. That’s what I was going to say.

Thanks for listening — again. And, until next time or next Friday, praying for all of you,

Photo by Josue Michel on Unsplash