Parity of Love

(via the-absolute-funniest-posts)

“Luke, I am your father”

A galaxy far, far away. A childhood filled with a longing for other places and people. A staunch belief that evil is somewhere else, that you and those closest to you are good, close to perfect people.

I love a well written story. I can discover along with the main character, I can laugh at a joke, I can worry when danger comes. The story for Star Wars is excellent. A farm boy from a distant planet who turns out to be the heir to the defenders of all that is good in the galaxy. Luke Skywalker grew up believing his father to have been a martyr for the Rebellion against the Empire. He believed that evil was Darth Vader and the Empire.

Growing up I knew that there was evil, that there was right and wrong. Somehow I believed that it was other people who did the “really” bad things. I went to church, obeyed my parents(mostly), didn’t cuss, didn’t smoke and didn’t watch bad movies. Growing up I remember watching the news and hearing about murders and robberies and I imagine Luke Skywalker listening to reports about the evil Empire or about Vader.

“Who would you give a second chance?”

As the story progresses Luke learns from a wise teacher that evil is a choice, that it is in each of us. We may try to put a bar up and say, “my bad things aren’t like this person over here, shoot, look at what they’ve done!”. Luke also learns that his perfect world isn’t so perfect when Vader reveals himself as Lukes father. One of the most evil persons in the galaxy is Luke’s father.

In Christ we are set free by the blood of his death, and so we have forgiveness of sins. How rich is God’s grace, (Ephesians 1:7 NCV)

My own perfect little world came crashing down just like Luke Skywalker’s. My family is not perfect and I am far from perfect. I have sinned just like everybody else has. The forgiveness that I cling to is the also offered to all those who will accept it. Gods grace extends far beyond what mine would(and does).

I have to admit I didn’t fully understand the motives of Luke, in the final movie, when he went in search of Vader in an attempt to redeem him. I thought, “why are you trying to save him? Stay with the good people, you’re supposed to be fighting against Vader for what he has done”.

“Theres still good in him, I know it” Luke says about Vader. Oh how I long to see others in the light of grace. To see beyond the darkness, the masks, the “evil” that I am blinded by. To see the future, the reconciliation, the good that can triumph if I am willing to set aside my judgement.

Martin Luther was once approached by a man who enthusiastically announced that he’d recently become a Christian. Wanting desperately to serve the Lord, he asked Luther, “What should I do now?” As if to say, should he become a minister or perhaps a traveling evangelist. A monk, perhaps.

Luther asked him, “What is your work now?”

“I’m a shoe maker.”

Much to the cobbler’s surprise, Luther replied, “Then make a good shoe, and sell it at a fair price.”

The examples of spectacular comebacks from failure or tragedy are inspiring to us:

Albert Einstein was told by his math professor he would never amount to anything.

Warren Buffett was rejected by the Harvard Business School.

Steve Jobs was turned down by HP for an entry-level job and later fired by the company he founded—Apple.

Juliette Magill Kinzie overcame the loss of her hearing, her husband and her home to found the Girl Scouts of the USA.

Dan Luckett overcame a double amputation and is now one of 41 American amputees currently serving in combat zones

Failure is not only an option—it’s a prerequisite.

RELEVANT Magazine - Why You Need to Fail

“You can’t really experience happiness until you’ve experienced pain”.  via - People Of The Second Chance