I just know that some of you saw the title and are reading now, hoping for lyrics to a Taylor Swift song. My apologies.
Yes, T. Swifty does have a song titled Blank Space, where she writes about her ex-lovers and the apparent vacancy for the next ex-boyfriend. But I have a different picture of what a blank space can offer.
Blank space offers a space for grace.
I have conversations with people all the time where the unspoken request is for grace. Deadlines weren't met, relationships need to be restored, wrongs have been committed. While there is certainly an understanding of consequences in most people's minds, it occurs to me that the blank space we can offer provides a way out.
This way out is not something people immediately consider. After all, what's done is done and there's no going back, right? But I see a blank space that says otherwise. New deadlines can be established. Relationships don't need to remain broken. Wrongs can be made right.
The Church should always have a blank space.
Every school year is a blank space, giving us a new chance to be a student that tries.
Every new job is a blank space, giving us the opportunity to offer our best with a team.
Every move is a blank space, offering a fresh slate to be who God made us to be.
But some of us are way past school age. Perhaps a new job is not out there and a move is impractical. What hope is there for us?
Every new day is a blank space. Every new day we awake, we have 12 hours of decisions to make. What will we make of this day? What kind of person will we be?
Every Sunday is a celebration of these blank spaces. We come together, as people of grace. Some of us come feeling more broken than others. Some of us come attempting to fool ourselves and others about our brokenness. Nevertheless, we come. We need the blank space.
We need the healing. We need the restoration. We need the grace. We need to be reminded that there is a blank space. The blank space is not there for our next mistake, but for our name to be written next to Jesus. Since creation, Jesus has had a plan, carried out to perfection.
Next to His Name is a blank space.
Yes, T. Swifty does have a song titled Blank Space, where she writes about her ex-lovers and the apparent vacancy for the next ex-boyfriend. But I have a different picture of what a blank space can offer.
Blank space offers a space for grace.
I have conversations with people all the time where the unspoken request is for grace. Deadlines weren't met, relationships need to be restored, wrongs have been committed. While there is certainly an understanding of consequences in most people's minds, it occurs to me that the blank space we can offer provides a way out.
This way out is not something people immediately consider. After all, what's done is done and there's no going back, right? But I see a blank space that says otherwise. New deadlines can be established. Relationships don't need to remain broken. Wrongs can be made right.
The Church should always have a blank space.
Every school year is a blank space, giving us a new chance to be a student that tries.
Every new job is a blank space, giving us the opportunity to offer our best with a team.
Every move is a blank space, offering a fresh slate to be who God made us to be.
But some of us are way past school age. Perhaps a new job is not out there and a move is impractical. What hope is there for us?
Every new day is a blank space. Every new day we awake, we have 12 hours of decisions to make. What will we make of this day? What kind of person will we be?
Every Sunday is a celebration of these blank spaces. We come together, as people of grace. Some of us come feeling more broken than others. Some of us come attempting to fool ourselves and others about our brokenness. Nevertheless, we come. We need the blank space.
We need the healing. We need the restoration. We need the grace. We need to be reminded that there is a blank space. The blank space is not there for our next mistake, but for our name to be written next to Jesus. Since creation, Jesus has had a plan, carried out to perfection.
Next to His Name is a blank space.
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