A Letter to the Misfits

Dear Lonely One,

I see you.

Holding yourself together in the corner in back of the Church, frantically rocking your babies in the front row, sitting at home because it hurt too much last time.

I see you struggling and doing your best.

I see you when they speak cruel words to you and it breaks you a little bit but you hide the tears.

I see you when it’s one more pro-family sermon, but your baby is gone.

I see you when they cry out against people like you, and your heart cries out, “Does God still love me?”

I see you when the condemn you for judging, but really you are just scared.

I see you when they declare you sinful, and you don’t understand why it seems like God is always waiting to trap you into hell.

“Why does He hate me so much, can’t He see how much it hurts?”

I see you, but more importantly, He does too.

Jesus said of the Pharisees, “They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as their finger.”(Matthew 23:4)

He defended the adulterous woman saying, “He who among you is without sin, cast the first stone.” (John 8:7)

He condemned judging in no uncertain terms in today’s Scripture reading,

“Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you.”

(Luke 6:36-38)

The narrative of Scripture again and again reminds us that we are not holy for our own works, but because we are chosen by God. “For if you were to mark our iniquities, Lord who can stand.” Even Job who was “the faithful one” fell into pride while he was defending himself against his friends, but God spoke to Him, reminded him of how little he is, and Job repented.

Sometimes we treat our faith like a clique all the “good people” get to join, and we are always increasing the rules you have to follow to enter. Like Regina in Mean Girls, we list the t-shirts you have to wear, where you have to shop, who you like, and what you do. That is never what we were called to.

We were called to freedom.(Galatians 5:13) We are called to the wide range of gifts St. Paul talks about in his letters. We are called to be ever more and more ourselves in following Jesus, not to be slaves to what false prophets are telling us we have to be.

Lonely ones, I see you, but He wrote a letter to you through all of His works, and it is waiting for you. When you feel alone, go to His Word, and believe me over and over again you will be surprised to see His abundant, overflowing love for you. When the words of everyone out there seem to spin around you, condemning you, and you despair, His word will dispel your fear.

He loves you, and “one day He will wipe away every tear from [your] eyes.” I promise.

He has plans for you, to prosper you and not to harm you. YOU are His beloved.

He loves you, and He sent me to tell you so. ♥️

I love you too,

-Me