April 24

Beloved of Good Shepherd Church,

Happy Easter!

I realized that I had made a mistake in the exact moment that it was too late to do anything about it. I forgot to pass the offering plates on Good Friday. I was caught up in the current of Holy Week and just flat out forgot. My mistake. I caught my mistake just as I noticed that everyone had left the worship space, so I couldn’t even pass the plates late.

I was upset with myself because it’s a missed opportunity for the worshippers to give and the church to receive, but I was also upset because truth be told I’d like to live a mistake-free life. I secretly want to be perfect. Thus mine was a timely mistake because Good Friday is the day to nail all one’s “most feared and cherished illusions about oneself to the cross.” There is no such thing as a mistake-free life or a perfect person. What is real is a life imbued with grace. The aim for Christians is not to get it right everytime, but to be constantly open to receiving the gift of God’s grace. It is a gift that is on offer all the time. Once when I told a dear friend about my desire to be perfect he said, “Man, when are you going to quit white-knuckling your life so that you can accept the grace that God has given you free of charge?” “Can I do that, I said?” “Yes!” he said, "And I wish you would.”

Easter is the celebration of the repairing power of God’s grace as it pours forth into the world from the empty tomb of Jesus Christ. What’s the last sizable mistake you made? Perhaps something you said or did that you wish you could take back? An overreaction or a missed opportunity. Instead of dwelling in guilt, open your arms, your mind, your heart, and your soul to the grace that is running your way like a river of benevolent love.

Remember this always - God loves you, and I love you too!

Love is all,

Hendree+

P.S. If you want to make a Good Friday offering to God through Good Shepherd Church in thanksgiving for the grace that covers all our mistakes you can do so HERE. Thank you!