Beautiful Chaos

I gave up writing on this blog when I felt like I no longer had much to say that I wasn't already saying from the pulpit. But I had an experience this morning in worship that I have to write down, even if only for myself.

It was during communion, which in our church we do once a month (almost always on the first Sunday of the month). I was, as always, serving the bread, and Pastor Rick was serving the grape juice. People were coming forward, as they always were, and the band was singing some well-known songs. And I noticed behind me there was quite a bit of chit-chat. In fact, it sort of morphed into all out conversation among I don't know how many people. They were trying to out-talk the band.

There were children coming forward, some of whom wanted bread and some of whom didn't. (Bread dipped in grape juice? Eww!) We had some new folks (many of whom have come to the church through Celebrate Recovery who weren't quite sure what this was about, but came anyway, and special needs folks (our church has a huge special needs ministry) who don't always react the way you expect.

All of this was happening all around me, as I was trying to stay focused on the word, "This is the body of Christ, given for you..." and remembering people's names! But here's what I noticed today: normally I would get really frustrated by the noise and the chatter and the unexpected. Today, I heard two words whispered into my spirit: "Beautiful chaos." I sensed that what I was experiencing this morning was a picture of the kingdom of God—beautiful and messy and chaotic and made up of people who don't always get things right and people who are welcomed anyway. Because all are welcome. And all are loved. And all are given the same grace through the bread and the cup. Beautiful chaos.

And the most beautiful thing of all? It stopped bothering me and I found myself rejoicing in it. And that's a lot for this perfectionist! Beautiful chaos—when the kingdom of God comes on earth as it is in heaven.