Years ago, my beloved Agnes, well into her eighties, knew that she was dying. With that knowledge before her, she made it clear, in no uncertain terms, that she wanted to be buried in her red dress. She loved that red dress! Sadly, there were others who felt the red dress inappropriate for her to be buried in, and thus, Agnes was buried in a blue dress.
Weeks later, as I was grieving the loss of this dear woman, I had a dream about her. It was a powerful, comforting dream full of details that blessed me, but none more than the fact that she was wearing her red dress. And she was smiling and singing and waving right at me!
In recent days, I heard a true story about a female pastor who wore a red dress in the pulpit. I don’t know why or if it was her favorite dress, but she was chastised by a parishioner that as a minister, she should never wear such a thing… especially in the pulpit. Word has it, the very next Sunday, the pastor stepped into the pulpit wearing the very same red dress. Can you hear the cheering from where you sit? That would be me and Agnes from the “Live Your Life” stands.
There will always be voices and systems and institutions that work really hard at boxing us up. There are endless ‘shoulds’ and countless rules, and millions of tiny bubbles to fill in only with number two pencils. There will be endless messages telling you that you are not enough, you are not worthy, you are not accepted. These messages might even be spoken politely, covered in prayer, so that even in your wisest moments you question self and feel guilty for everything you are not.
Well, let me introduce you to the Doorless Church of Yes. You are welcomed here. You just come, because the God of this church knows you, created you, and loves you. The God of this church doesn’t fret over your gaps. This God relishes in your gifts, your beauty, your essence. This is a place of seeing and listening beyond sight and sound. It’s about authenticity and integrity of soul. For every box you’ve been put it, for every line that’s been drawn at your feet, for every no that’s been uttered in your sweet face… there are countless men and women and children and elders and little tail wagging dogs … all wearing their favorite shades of red as they await your arrival.
Typically, it takes lots of time, energy, and a vast amount of courage to come. Many spend years, decades even, listening to the negativity and judgment. They use up every ounce of energy they own to change who they are so they will finally be accepted. Many knock and knock and knock and it isn’t until their knuckles bleed that they realize as long as they face this one door, they’ll never see the numerous doorless paths of health and wholeness right behind them.
If something in you is begging you to turn in a different direction…
If you feel outcast by the very entities that claim to be loving and wise…
If you long to do good but are told you are not good enough to do so…
If your red dress has been on the hanger for too many years…
Then, come. I’d like to meet you.
I don’t own a red dress, but you can find me by way of my toes. The most recent rejection in my life led me to my hot pink toenail polish and the delight of it brought me back to myself. With each stroke of that vibrant color, I could hear Agnes singing “Glory, Glory” all the way from heaven.
It’s not about what you lack.
It’s about trusting who you are.
Weeks later, as I was grieving the loss of this dear woman, I had a dream about her. It was a powerful, comforting dream full of details that blessed me, but none more than the fact that she was wearing her red dress. And she was smiling and singing and waving right at me!
In recent days, I heard a true story about a female pastor who wore a red dress in the pulpit. I don’t know why or if it was her favorite dress, but she was chastised by a parishioner that as a minister, she should never wear such a thing… especially in the pulpit. Word has it, the very next Sunday, the pastor stepped into the pulpit wearing the very same red dress. Can you hear the cheering from where you sit? That would be me and Agnes from the “Live Your Life” stands.
There will always be voices and systems and institutions that work really hard at boxing us up. There are endless ‘shoulds’ and countless rules, and millions of tiny bubbles to fill in only with number two pencils. There will be endless messages telling you that you are not enough, you are not worthy, you are not accepted. These messages might even be spoken politely, covered in prayer, so that even in your wisest moments you question self and feel guilty for everything you are not.
Well, let me introduce you to the Doorless Church of Yes. You are welcomed here. You just come, because the God of this church knows you, created you, and loves you. The God of this church doesn’t fret over your gaps. This God relishes in your gifts, your beauty, your essence. This is a place of seeing and listening beyond sight and sound. It’s about authenticity and integrity of soul. For every box you’ve been put it, for every line that’s been drawn at your feet, for every no that’s been uttered in your sweet face… there are countless men and women and children and elders and little tail wagging dogs … all wearing their favorite shades of red as they await your arrival.
Typically, it takes lots of time, energy, and a vast amount of courage to come. Many spend years, decades even, listening to the negativity and judgment. They use up every ounce of energy they own to change who they are so they will finally be accepted. Many knock and knock and knock and it isn’t until their knuckles bleed that they realize as long as they face this one door, they’ll never see the numerous doorless paths of health and wholeness right behind them.
If something in you is begging you to turn in a different direction…
If you feel outcast by the very entities that claim to be loving and wise…
If you long to do good but are told you are not good enough to do so…
If your red dress has been on the hanger for too many years…
Then, come. I’d like to meet you.
I don’t own a red dress, but you can find me by way of my toes. The most recent rejection in my life led me to my hot pink toenail polish and the delight of it brought me back to myself. With each stroke of that vibrant color, I could hear Agnes singing “Glory, Glory” all the way from heaven.
It’s not about what you lack.
It’s about trusting who you are.
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