“Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes.”

–Walt Whitman, Song of Myself

Does this sound familiar to you?

It reminds me of this quote from the Apostle Paul:

I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. Romans 7.15, NLT

How very human and honest of both of these celebrated authors.

There’s something honest and freeing about these passages.

Honest because we can all relate. These passages are best illustrated in the cartoon with the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other. We’ve all been there.

It’s freeing because it’s nice to know other people experience the same things we do.

The struggle is real.

A movement I’ve enjoyed recently is a shift in story telling in movies and on TV.

Have you noticed is harder to figure out who the bad guy is?

It’s fun to go back and watch old detective shows. It’s so easy to spot the real culprit. He’s always shifty-eyed and sweaty.

In Westerns, the villain is always wearing the black hat.

Life isn’t always so simple. We’re complicated. Capable of tremendous good and unspeakable evil.

Sometimes it’s unsettling to think about it.

I’m thankful God loves me even though I’m not good all the time. In fact, sometimes I’m just plain rotten.

I’m glad his grace isn’t reserved for the most deserving.

His love and grace is for all who willingly receive from him.

Sweaty. Shifty-eyed. Smooth talkers.

It doesn’t matter.

Jesus died once for all. (1 Peter 3.18)

He created you and me.

He knows us better than we know ourselves.

He loves us. Multitudes and all.