I left them behind;
Those who hate me and hurt me
Those who label me what I’m not
Those who judge me by my looks
Those who mock because of where I am
I left them all and ran under the shadow
Of His wings to hide, to unburden and rest
Only to be rudely awakened by condemnation
And rejection that claims I don’t belong.

Imagine being heavily weighed down by a burden you couldn’t help yet you dressed up, went to God’s house to pour your heart to the only One who can intervene and make sense of something that makes no sense to you or anyone else around. Those around are writing you off because of your situation and in search of peace, you get away from all that criticisms and enter His presence. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, you cease trying to hold and keep it all together. Instead, you find yourself a hidden corner because the matter is so heavy and so private.

Falling on your knees, you let the tears flow. But instead of wasting it, you begin to wash the feet of the Master with pricey tears you have bottled inside for so long as you tried to keep a smile, acting like everything was alright even though you were falling apart inside. In His Presence, you take off all the covers, lay down the acts, and the vulnerable you enters into the sacred, baring it all to the One who alone can stand the nakedness, the brokenness, and the helplessness no human eye should witness.

As you are in that vulnerable position pouring out the tears, downloading the burdens, telling Him how bad it is, how deep it hurts, how shameful it feels, and how helpless you feel, someone crosses the line to not only behold the unpresentable to human eyes, but also goes as far as interrupting this sacred communion. “O no! Who would dare? Why won’t they let me hide here and have just this moment alone with Him? Why?”

You try to gather whatever you can of your esteem that is littered on that sacred ground, the best you can and look up – into the eyes of judgment, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!” (1 Samuel 1:14.) Judgment in the courts of Love. Condemnation in the house of our Refuge. Rejection in the Presence of the One who accepts us all and asks us to come as we are. Unfortunately, that is what the church is serving the broken, the helpless, the voiceless even until today. That is how the church is turning away those who are running into the Father’s House with their issues.

And it is not just the sisters and brothers and mothers and fathers. It is also the leaders who are called to shepherd God’s people. It is very easy to judge people who are running out and wanting nothing to do with Christianity but if judgment must begin at home as Love commands, then we should take a snapshot of our faith and how it is being communicated so we can take the log out of our eyes before we judge the speck in the eyes of others. Expecting perfection even when we are not, serving judgment instead of charity, has been and still remains one of the greatest robbers of the church and its treasuries. If pictures of our faith, and the communication of our beliefs, within and outside the church especially in our homes, workplaces and neighborhood is taken, what shall we see? Will they be uplifting or belittling? May God help us. Amen.

Blessings
Glory!