Last night as I watched the honor bestowed upon folks in sports, I thought about the lives that are lived in one venue or another. The life that is perhaps only seen in the workplace or the sports arena. And then I think about the divine reparation that God has for each person. I am sure He looks down on a speaker, a player, a CEO and has blessed what they do. But God is in the restoration of the whole person.

This is not about a player, a business person or anyone specifically. It is simply an observation.

God is in the business of making people whole. One of the greatest tragedies I see is the idea that success is enamored. I am very aware that we should honor success. That success is something that is good. (I do not suggest we “pursue” success but would rather like to believe it is part of who we are and what we do.)But there is more to that equation.

The second side of this observation is how so many are tripped up in their inability to be in community. I am sure you can think of the myriad of reasons for that. (But it does not mean we should not.)

I wrote this yesterday and it stirred some things. If God is the God of light, why do folks who go through troubled times work to keep so much in darkness? Darkness often hides the very solution we need!

It was not a derogatory statement, but again simply an observation. How can you receive help if you do not feel you can? The problem with darkness is it trips people up further, allowing deception and deceit to come into one’s life. It allows for compartmentalization of one’s life, creating more time required to heal and make whole. I often see it like a glove covering a hand. The fingers or high points are the areas that are “progressing”, while the valleys or spaces between are not. It is one of the reasons people get hooked on video games or turn to other things because of the darkness. In the darkness there is pain and a desire to fix. But without community and folks to move with, too often life turns to other areas that are not healthy or wise.

Now, I do get that not everyone has had pleasant experiences or had folks of quality or goodness. I understand that. I do not think that is simply a present day circumstance. I am sure the apostles and the church of early years were dealing with it. And I am not advocating for “more abuse” or judgment. I am saying that I think it is impossible to get to where you need to be or more importantly to where God has desire you to be without the ability to be open with others. I am not talking with “lots” of others. I am simply saying with others.

To avoid light is to avoid God. Perhaps even to resist Him. So often people are put in other’s lives for the very purpose of helping them grow. Too often help is rejected for a multiple of reasons. God is desirous to provide health and wisdom to the body, to an individual. Frequently He uses people to do so. The continued avoidance and “cover ups” never seem to resolve. Only a crisis in that case seems to bring needed help. And that begets my question as to why? Why would we avoid only to incur crisis? I get it. I have done it myself. But I also see the fallacy of the thought process.

Having been in the ministry for over 20 years, I can say “I get it” but oh how it pains me to see it. Most calls I have received have been out of crisis or a circumstance.

Do I have the fix? Only to the extent that I believe God and the Bible and see that He has an answer. Not just a fix but a restorative process. Some of it is love, truth, belief and understanding. Just putting on a game face is not the answer. Community and people are the majority of the answer. Why? Because He created us that way and wired us for such.

Does that mean you won’t be hurt? Probably not. People are people in progress. It is a walk and not a run. God is in the business of making whole. Allow Him. Let Him.

Let the light of God enter your world.