The Runaway

I got the title of this blog page from a book that I have found refreshing upon discovery.  It is "The Ragamuffin Gospel" by Brennan Manning. 

The Christianity I have been surrounded by most of my life is one that seemed so vastly opposite the frank, honest faith that Brennan Manning voiced in this book.  In its manifesto, this Christianity had echoed many of the truths that I saw Manning reiterate, but in practice, it was populated mostly by legalists that just couldn't help themselves, judged from cover appearances, and feared 'bad influences' above all else.

How sad that because of growing up in this it blows my mind that we should accept the fact that our nature is to err (and we will many, many times).  I've been taught this truth since childhood but never realized I could really believe it.  We need not hide or pretend we are perfect, God knows what we are.  And He loves us anyway.

Man sins.  God forgives.  Man falls.  God picks him up.  Man turns their back on God.  God follows.  Man wakes up and wants to come back home.  God is already there.

I am the runaway--the deserter.  I am on a journey to know the God I chose to forget.