Private Party

I went for a jog the other day at Cameron Park. I just had to use the bathroom so badly, so I went into the clubhouse. There were people cleaning up after a meal in the next room and I just went straight to the ladies’ room. A man approached me on my way out saying, “This, is a… private party.” His words were laced with condescension and ungraciousness.

I thought later “sorry to trespass on your private party of jackasses!” I know, not a nice thing to think. But what gave this man the right to trespass on my dignity? Suddenly, I knew just an ounce of what it must have felt like for an African American to be asked to sit at the back of the bus in the 60’s.

The truth is much of the world is having a private party. The one screaming at me all the time is the private party of being in a relationship, getting married, and having babies. Biologically, socially, internally; the message is relentless. My friend recently lost a lot of weight (I’m so inspired by her!), and this older woman came up to us and said “she’ll be finding a man in no time, she’s worked so hard, she deserves it!” Like she lost weight not for her own health and well-being but for a future husband to finally appreciate all that is great about her. The message I heard was “if you’re not married, you better be doing your best to snag a man as soon as you can by losing weight and being beautiful, then you’ll come to deserve him.” Even marriage only comes to those who earn it. It’s some sort of club that I’m decidedly unfit for; I’m too independent, too different, too intimidating, too friendly.

I know we all feel the pressure for other sorts of exclusive clubs as well. Clubs set apart for wealth, beauty, success, power.

Even Christianity is accused of being exclusive. But the mystery of the Gospel is that we are adopted. We are grafted in. We didn’t belong, but now we do. And the mystery of the Gospel is available to all who believe through the blood of Christ Jesus. But this message is not easy to swallow. And not all make it in the end. And not all who say ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.

But our faith is made sure and steadfast. “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

So this private party, do I need to belong there? No. If it was something I needed I would be there. Instead, I am made full in Christ. Salvation is what I need. Mercy and grace applied to my account is all I need to function in this life and the next. Will God be glorified in my life? Will He find faith on the earth?