Radical Generosity - Assorted Thoughts
What to do when who you are is hopelessly inconsistent with who you know you should be
I was reminded of this poem while studying Come Follow Me this week and learning about Paul’s stunning explanation of the grace we receive through Christ’s atonement. It was written at the beginning of my home MTC experience, while I was lying on the tramp sulking about how I wasn’t still at Nauvoo and how Spanish was hard and how my back hurt from sitting in a chair all day and how my district sucked and how I’m probably not even good enough for a full-time mission and never will be and how online MTC sucked and how it probably wasn’t even that hot in Nauvoo right now and
Anyways.
You get the gist.
I’ve struggled with perfectionism my whole life, and writing this poem was honestly a revelatory experience for me - a moment when God began to teach me what it is to truly be “perfected in Christ” (See Moroni 10:32, emphasis added). Now after what I’ve learned about Christ, I like to also think of it as being “perfected with Christ” in the sense that He is with us in every step of our mortal journey, giving us His own strength as we strive to become more like Him. This quote from D. Todd Christofferson really stood out to me this week so I’ll share it and then we can get on to the poem haha. I have so much more to say but this is my poem blog, not my doctrinal analysis blog lol so lmk if you want to discuss this in-depth and I will gleefully give you a call with alacrity.
“This personal persistence in the path of obedience is something different than achieving perfection in mortality. Perfection is not, as some suppose, a prerequisite for justification and sanctification. It is just the opposite: justification (being pardoned) and sanctification (being purified) are the prerequisites for perfection. We only become perfect “in Christ” (see Moro. 10:32), not independently of Him. Thus, what is required of us in order to obtain mercy in the day of judgment is simple diligence.”
Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Justification and Sanctification, June 2001
All that is required of us is diligence!!!! Do we actually understand that??? Is it actually part of who we are as disciples of Jesus Christ?? Hopefully, some thoughts I wrote on a trampoline in September 2021 can help you understand this concept just a little better. :) enjoy.
RADICAL GENEROSITY Many times, I wonder: "Why?" "Why would God trust me with this?" I'm imperfect. I'm flawed. Surely there must be someone better equipped for this work than I. I look in the mirror and see an excruciatingly large gap between the woman I am and the woman I know I can and should be. What does He see in that gap - that chasm of weakness and pride, selfishness and sin? He sees everything. The lonely, dark places of my soul, yes, but, more importantly, He sees the beautiful, powerful spirit that has always existed, the soul that has the capacity and ability to change the world. He sees my successes and failures, my strengths and weaknesses, everything. And He thinks I'm beautiful. He thinks I'm worth it. He thinks I'm capable. Each and every day, I am astounded by His radical generosity, by the grace that continues to be extended to me regardless of whether or not I do anything to deserve it. We're a good team, God and I. Together, one tiny shovelful of dirt at a time, we begin to fill that chasm. Each day, I try to accept that radical generosity and show just how grateful I am for it. It's a slow process. It may even take an eternity to fill that chasm. But, each day, I pick up my shovel. Each day, I get to work. And Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Creator of All Things, works right beside me. "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." -2 Corinthians 12:9-11