The way Anne Lamott writes doesn't make room for non-sequiturs to be non-sequiturs, since everything she writes is simultaneously flowing logically and sporadically careening from thought to thought. However, I'm about to use that term only to say that while "Bird by Bird" was the source of inspiration for this thought, the book has nothing to do with this thought (that being said, everyone who wants to be a better writer, no matter the medium, or anyone who just wants to sit down with an old friend and chat should pick it up).

A non-sequitur in Anne Lamott's "Bird by Bird" exposed how small my God was several months ago. I've since returned the book to the library, but perhaps I can paraphrase somewhat accurately: "When God believes all the same things you do, perhaps you've created God in our image instead of the other way around." (If anyone has the book and cares to correct the quote, post it in the comments). I've only been a Christian for a handful of years (more than 40 dog-years though!). I can't claim to have obsessed over each page of scripture. And even though I've listened to hundreds of sermons in that time, I hope that I've only scratched the surface of the glacier that is God. And yet, all my worldviews coincidentally align with his! The things about this world that irk me irk him! The people that drive me crazy drive him crazy!

I recognize now that I am, in fact, creating God in my image. I'm finding ways to justify all of my ill thoughts and cynical expressions by twisting something that may be true into something that aligns perfectly with what I want to be true. It may be that in some of those things I have taken on God's view of life, but I wouldn't know because I haven't truly explored what God believes about all of the things that affect my life - whether that is revealed in scripture, prayer, meditation, writing, or conversations with those who have journeyed with my God longer than i have. Perhaps, as a relatively young Christian, the areas where I am most comfortable with what I perceive God asking me to do reveal a sort of litmus test for where I haven't dug deep enough.

I think this is a flaw I share with the rest of the Jesus-following world. The Bible has a lot of challenging things to say, and yet I watch people (myself included) dismissing major chunks of scripture because another chunk may get messy.

I say we embrace the mess. It's easier for us to become like Jesus if we make Jesus into who we are. But that's not what it means to be a disciple. If I am to be a disciple of Jesus, to become who God created me to be, then I must confess that God is not stepping into my world, but inviting me to step into His.

Labels: Jesus