New

I got an iPhone. It has been quite an experience getting used to it. For starters, it doesn’t flip open. None the less, this purchase has caused me to enter the world of apps. I thought it was as easy as searching for what you need and clicking install. If it were only that simple. Apps have a store. Like groceries or shoes. The store has them divided by category. For every app category there are hundreds of options. If you’ve made it this far and you’ve actually found an app, then you have to make a decision. Purchase or not? Worth it or not? You make this decision based on the “reviews”. The review is the opinion of the last person who tried it out. Fewer people leave good reviews. For some reason we are more likely to take the time to comment on something when it has disappointed us. The review let’s you know whether or not the app is worth the cost. An app is only as good as it’s last review. The last review is the one everyone sees. As I was making my way through this insanity that is technology I found myself conflicted internally. I think I was actually feeling sorry for the app. The “bad review” is like the scarlet letter of the app store. OR maybe I was just moved to something deeper. Life is full of reviews. It’s hard to not feel  like you’re only as good as your last review. Your last game. You’re last weight on the scale. You’re last pant size. Your last relationship. Your last try. Your last loss. Your last look in the mirror. Your last broken promise. Your last attempt. Your last lie. Your last score. Your last disappointment. Your last “not enough”. Your last…

While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.   Luke 5:12-13

He’s not just a leper. He’s a person. Who was a kid once. Who had dreams. And one day all of those dreams changed. And he ended up alone and on the outside. He actually wasn’t supposed to be in town. He's supposed to live outside with the other outsiders. The rule was, if you must come to town, you had to ring a bell and call out “UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN”. This would give everyone the needed time to get out of your way. So your disease didn’t rub off on them. This time was different. As he rang his bell and called out his terrible name, “UNCLEAN”. Someone didn’t run. Jesus. I wonder if he knew what Jesus looked like or if he just recognized Jesus because He was the only person who didn’t get out the way. He sees him. Then the perfect and the imperfect come face to face. Then face to feet. And the perfect reaches out and touches the imperfect. “Be clean!”. Katharizo in greek. It means new. Jesus say’s, “Be New!”  I can’t help but wonder how different this trip to town was than his last… than his last review. Than the last time he broke the rules looking for love. It’s almost as if Jesus was telling him he’s worth it… regardless of his last review. Maybe that’s how we all become new. By finding out we’re worth it by coming in contact with the perfect.

It’s hard to not feel like you’re only as good as your last review.