Meditation on Using Our Imperfections as Gateways into Big Love and Community

My heart is a bit heavy.  A dear friend of mine and I used to see pretty much everything the same way.  But now, while we still hold much in common, we diverge in certain aspects on one of the BIG topics: God.  Truthfully, I’m the one who’s left “home”, so to speak, and even though it seems to me my journey has led to beautiful and sacred spaces, it is HARD to have my newer conclusions and experiences doubted and to feel partially rejected, if you know what I mean.  A share this in part because I need to for healing and wholeness, after all, vulnerability is an integral part of being fully and freely alive, and also to set up this insight from author Tahereh Mafi in “Shatter Me”:

“The moon is a loyal companion.  It never leaves.  It’s always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever just as we do.  Every day it’s a different version of itself.  Sometimes weak and wan, sometimes strong and full of light.  The moon understands what it means to be human.  Uncertain.  Alone.  Cratered by imperfections.”

I love how she both says the moon is a companion who NEVER leaves us, AND that it is ALONE like us.  This reminds me it is NORMAL to FEEL alone, uncertain, or weak.  These are part of the glorious imperfections of being human and alive.  I name our imperfections “glorious”, because it occurs to me the moon wouldn’t be so beautiful without the blemishes of its craters, and I think our doubts, weaknesses, and struggles do the same for us.  Like the moon’s loyal presence, they remind us we are continually carried through life by a Love and Grace bigger than and beyond ourselves, AND that life is a team sport.  With this in mind, today I invite us to lean into and smile at our imperfections as gateways into Big Love and community.