Matthew 21:12, 14 CEB

Then Jesus went into the temple and threw out all those who were selling and buying there.

...

People who were blind and lame came to Jesus in the temple, and he healed them.

The week before Jesus died he not only threw out the traders from the temple, Jesus invited in the blind and the lame, the marginalised, those who were excluded. "They" were welcomed in.

Welcomed in as they are.

And Jesus spent his time healing, so that the lame could walk and the blind could see.

This week someone shared their story with me that they have a friend who is lame, who can only walk slowly. This person likes to move quickly, but chooses to slow down to the pace of their friend.

An act of love.

Jesus was able to heal in ways that we might often wish or hope for, but we can do what he did and see those on the margins, see those in their struggle, invite them in, and slow down for them.

Love is found in the welcome

Love is found in the invitation

Love is found in the slowing down.

And healing and hope are found in Love.

#slowdownforsomeone

We can all feel that we're at the margins at times, left out, forgotten, excluded, unworthy. 

This story of Jesus flipping the script at the temple, seeing and welcoming in those who were seen as "less than", this story is part of the Big Story of Hope & Restoration, & you are invited, included, accepted.

#beloved