"Living Room" is something we all need a little more of. I'm not talking about a larger physical space for our stuff or to couch potato in. I'm talking about grace--room--freedom, to question, to explore, to learn, to change, to grow, to Live toward an abundant life--abundant in grace, in freedom.
Whenever I experience this kind of room to breathe, to explore, to be wrong and still be loved, I am renewed. And in this kind of graceful renewal, I find I become more invested, more willing to be challenged, more able to be graceful in return than I ever find in places of confrontation, strict pharisaical rule keeping, or judgment.
Can the church be a "sanctuary" (a "Living Room") for a shifting and questioning and pensive collection of people, and by grace and by creating safe space to ask those questions, to explore, to struggle, to embrace mystery and also admit when we just don't know, when there is no one (pre-packaged) answer to someone's question or pain, but that we will walk together, one step at a time toward faith, one step at a time toward relationship, companionship, community, because we care enough to simply be present, patient, caring, and grace-full with one another.
It is a "gentle revolution". And gray is a warm and welcoming color for the "living room" we can create for and with each other. And the design for the "living room" comes from the work and life of a carpenter from Nazareth. Thank God for that!
