That's the title of the final chapter of "Streetwalking with Jesus," the book manuscript I've been assisting John Green, founder of Emmaus Ministries, with for the last 6 months. Today I made my last edits on this last chapter with both shouts of joy at nearing the end and tears of sadness too. I've loved this process of helping shape a book of Kingdom tales that much of the world has never heard. It shouts of God's tender, unrelenting love for all of us. John
reflects honestly on his journey of learning to do justice in the lives of sexually exploited men in Chicago.
Here's the start of the last chapter:
"I had a "Footprints in the Sand" poster on my bedroom wall when I was in high school. It's a familiar poem about God carrying us during difficult times. When it's printed on a poster, the background is sometimes an idyllic beach view, waves gently lapping the surf under the setting sun and a nice, orderly set of footprints heading down the beach. It's the kind of poster that makes you want to tilt your head to the side and let out a satisfying "awwww" as you melt into the peaceful image.
"It's hard for me to picture my walk with God in those pleasant terms. If I had to re-title that familiar poem, I'd call it "Scuff-marks on the Sidewalk." The poster would show a chaotic urban scene: blowing trash, homeless folk sleeping on a bus bench, delivery trucks belching toxic clouds of diesel, bike messengers and SUVs fighting it out, a diverse mix of pedestrians on the stroll, and a bit of blood and vomit splattering the sidewalk. The scuff-marks are those times God dragged me, kicking, screaming, and digging in my heels, forward in my spiritual life. Or perhaps they mark the times I was so filled with despair that I dropped to my knees in anguished prayer, and God grabbed the back of my shirt collar and towed me onward. My walk with Christ has been more like a battlefield than a gentle stroll down the beach."
In the near future, I hope you'll buy the book to read the stories of once-broken men whose lives have been transformed. Thank you to all of you who've prayed this book into being every Friday as I work with John via Skype. Please continue praying that we find the right publisher and that God helps us make the final edits on His work.
For more updates, join the facebook group: www.facebook.com/emmausbook.
The image above is from the book's potential cover.
