Somethin’ down south called having chu*ch. This can happen anywhere I go.

Having chu*ch is a little less structured than the Catholic Church I visited. Certainly more spontaneous than an articulately orchestrated Orthodox service. It happens sometimes even at a bus stop or grocery store.

I say: “How are you, today?” Somebody responds: “Hallelujah, the Lord is good!” I say, “Yes, Ma’am, He most certainly is!” Another say, “I’ been sore in my back for months and praise God, it’s feeling better today!”

“Uh- huh…Praise the Lord for His Mercy!” Says another lady, dressed from head to toe like a 1950’s movie star. She’s a knockout. And, she’s like 80 years old!

I like chu*ch. Seems a lot more like people are happy; so much so they can’t help talking about it! Black people and white people together.

A Pentecostal pastor I heard today said: “There is now no more condemnation for those who are in Christ.” He about exploded on stage like a stick of dynamite. Or, a fire hydrant when someone knocks it’s top off- gushing like a geiser!

The urgency with which he spoke reminds me when I was in first grade. There was a giant, frozen puddle on the playground. If I ran really fast and slid on my back, I could slide like 50 feet. It was the coolest thing my 6-year-old-self ever saw.

I ran around shaking the other children in excitement, telling them about the awesome slide! And, they had to come try it! But, nobody caught on. In fact, they looked at me uncertainly and went back to class without me.😔

But, I know now what the preacher was saying. He had experienced the coolest thing ever! He was going to hold on to me and wrestle with me like I was a bone and another dog was trying to steal me away.

He shook and shook and shook and wouldn’t let me go until I got it! (Figuratively speaking). And, I did😃

No condemnation! Shame and guilt do not define me, and cannot control me anymore! Jesus saves to the utmost. He is thorough. That’s the deal for those who accept Him and His forgiveness.

The Lord sees us as He made us. Originals-like at the beginning of all things. Not perfect of course yet- works in progress. But, not mangled and ugly, wanting to hide for fear and shame. He knows us AND He loves us.😃

That haunting, toxic train of thought-criticizing, reminding me of my failures- isn’t a Being who loves me. It’s that Other being.

I’ve heard people say that Scripture. It didn’t do much for me just stored in my head as words. It’s like data stored in a computer. Inoperative. It just exists, like me much of my life.

There’s something to be said for immersive education – experiencing love that shakes us awake. A soul gets sleepy from lack of oxygen and life-giving words of truth.

Maybe CNN which immerses us daily in misery and oppression should hire preachers instead- to tell us news. Maybe they wouldn’t go bankrupt!

Shake, Shake, Shake! Shake us Lord, until we wake up to who we really are and who You really Are! Amen.

‘That’s called Having Chu*ch!