The Light Shines on the Mess

The sun is up, and the mask is back on. You are holding someone's hand right now, but your mind is screaming that if they saw the raw, unedited mess behind your palm, they would pull away instantly.

You think you have to be finished to be loved. But listen — when Jesus saw the paralyzed man lowered through the roof, he did not wait for the man to stand up first.

He saw the faith of the friends and said, 'Son, your sins are forgiven.' The healing came before the walking. The acceptance came before the change.

There is a light inside you that was placed there before you ever tried to be good enough. Thomas said it plainly: if you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you.

If you hide it, it destroys you. The morning light does not ask you to clean the house before it shines through the window.

It shines on the dust and the disorder alike. You do not have to edit yourself to be held.

The hand holding yours is not gripping a performance. It is gripping you.

The light sees the mess and calls it home.