I recently picked up a book entitled Messy Spirituality—God’s Annoying Love for Imperfect People. I chose it simply because I knew the author’s son, Mark Yaconelli, who was a classmate of mine in seminary years ago, and I remember his quiet and gentle spirit. The author, Mark’s father, was a famous evangelist who had a great influence on my ministry. I say was, because Michael Yaconelli died in a car accident several years ago. I picked up his book, remembering his son and remembering him, and I added the book to a growing stack of books that I hope to read one day.

Today, I picked up the book and began to turn the pages. Michael begins with these words:
My life is a mess. After forty-five years of trying to follow Jesus, I keep losing him in the crowded busyness of my life. I know Jesus is there, somewhere, but it’s difficult to make him out in the haze of everyday life.

As I read the first paragraph, I thought about the honesty of this prominent evangelist. His words speak of the struggle of an ordinary person who seeks to be faithful. Somehow I expected something different from a man who was famous and revered as one of the great evangelists of our time. I am grateful for the difference.

Michael gives permission to all of us who don’t have it quite right yet to keep on keepin’ on. He tells us that spirituality is not a formula or a test but a relationship. He says that it is not about how good we are at praying, but about how intimate we become with the one we pray to.

Michael reminds us that accepting our flaws and imperfections is the beginning of spirituality. That spirituality is not about being fixed but about God’s presence in our lives even “in the mess of our unfixedness.” What a great reminder to all of us who strive each day to begin again.

As I picked up the pieces of my spirituality recently, I decided to read a chapter from Proverbs each week. It is a simple task, but somehow already, just into the first few chapters, I have noticed my heart turning back to the things that are important. I sit with the heavy Bible in my lap, and I read the words of one who struggled centuries ago with some of the issues I struggle with today.

I hope that you might consider such an endeavor. I hope that you will find some time in these autumn days to allow your spirit to be nourished. Take Michael’s words to heart. Begin where you are, “warts and all.”

And may the Peace of Christ be with you.
Shalom, Margaret