MMario, now don't be picking on Steve, that ain't right either. For me-- guilty as charged. Christian through and through, and not yet nearly perfect. And some of the jokesters turn out to be the strongest prayer warriors I have ever met. *G*Steve B. How to explain. OK. We Christian Mudcatters all seem to have our line we are not willing to cross or to have anyone cross in our presence. I have taken my turn at objecting. I was amazed to find that people did actually care, often, if they hurt me by aiming at my Friend. But ya know, He is tougher than we are, plus He sees things differently, and I think often He understands the remarks better than we do. After I express my umbrage, I usually smack myself on the forehead and exclaim, "Duh! I couldda prayed like a V8!" That's what I think Jesus does when we mess up-- intercede? I want to be more like THAT.
Before Jesus reclaimed me as an active follower, about 10 years ago, I spent a LOT of time working on various collected distresses. I found that the more hurt I could dump out in those sessions (see www.rc.org), the more space I had for my mind to work flexibly. Then when Jesus grabbed me back, that freed-up space and flexibility became space big enough and free enough to take in a whole lot more awareness of the Holy Spirit than had been possible before. (I believe Jesus had helped send me that healing process, although it is not a Christian one actually.) And now, whatever distress about spirituality I can unload, sometimes through laughter, leaves more of that space... to fill with.... guess what?
Sometimes, here at Mudcat, I see us doing that. Working our way, however clumsily and gracelessly, through the stuff that keeps is from seeing God, at all, or in each other. From this, and the friendships developed, some of the most extreme jokesters have even begun to approach some of the Big Questions.
So Steve, please get to know us. There is room here for you just as you are (sound familiar?). But we are here just as we are, too.
In Christ,
~Susan