As we are packing, cleaning, attending "going away" parties, saying good-bye, etc, Liz and I are having an ongoing discussion about the impact we have had on people in our neighborhood and community. If you haven't already, you need to check out her latest post here on her blog.
In reading Joshua this morning from The Message, I was taken by a line from Peterson's introduction to the book. He wrote the following:
"God's great love and purposes for us are worked out in the messes, storms, and sins, blue skies, daily work, and dreams of our common lives, working with us as we are and not as we should be."
(The Message: The Old Testament Historical Books, p. 10).
I find that line comforting. We have strived to be who we are, without pretense...to be open and authentic...to be honest about who we are and who we are not. I have to say that Liz does a better job of this than I, as it seems that I can be too concerned with how I am perceived by others. But all in all, I am grateful that God uses us as we are.