These are just some scattered thoughts I had upon seeing this fading announcement of storefront services on a crumbling brick building in downtown Memphis. The photo was taken in 2010.
 Holiness Is BeautifulÂ
Give me a storefront chapel a block from Beale.
Offer me a folding chair, a cup of coffee, a tattered copy of the Big Book.
Bring out the King James Bible which doubles as life guide and coaster.
Pour me out a shot of old time religion, but season it with a modern grace.
Remind me often that Jesus never once looked through stained glass.
Tell me I screwed up. Admit you screw up too.
Point me to God.
Let me bum a cigarette.
Honor me with a genuine compliment.
Love me by loving all of me – my darkness as well as my light.
Accept me unconditionally, but don’t let me settle into mediocrity.
Show me you care by holding me accountable.
Encourage me by pushing me to fly before I even realize I have wings.
Inspire me to want to be better today than I was yesterday.
Don’t let me settle for anything less than what I deserve.
Help me understand what I deserve.
Let me see what the future could be.
Pray for me.
Sit by me awhile and share your war stories and I’ll share mine.
Holiness is beautiful.
Rehab.
Different is beautiful.
Psych unit.
Brokenness is beautiful.
Third divorce.
Honesty is beautiful.
“I’m gay.”
Faith is beautiful, and doubt is beautiful.
“I just can’t do this anymore.”
Even our pain is beautiful.
“It’s over.”
Your story is beautiful, and my story is beautiful.
We are beautiful.
We are holy.
In the midst of everything, don’t ever forget that.