Funerals are a sobering celebration. I attended a family funeral on Friday. The pastor shared a personal message of transformation. The message in light of death and resurrection had a mysterious weight. Words spoken were not only absorbed in your mind, but your eyes experienced transformation.

Transformation: an act, or process, a complete or major change in someone’s or something’s appearance, form

As I looked around me, I saw people in the midst of a transformation while celebrating a life completely transformed. We, in the audience, represented a myriad of seasons, life stories, ages, struggles, thoughts, disappointments, confusion, peace…

No one but the deceased could claim, “I am completely healed.”

Intellectually we know this spiritual truth, but we so desire to have the spiritual life span of a caterpillar that transforms into the long-awaited butterfly.

However, this beautiful miracle in God’s nature is the hope of things to come.  We are not without hope in our transformation process.

I’m reading Jackie Kendall’s book  “Surrender Your Junior God Badge”.

The key is not achieving flawlessness, it’s being faithful although flawed. We can be comfortable with our flawed nature, instead of trying to cover it up. (pg 60-61)

I think I was born with this badge–striving for perfection, control, and excessive reasoning.  For me to feel safe and confident “it” must be understood and worked out according to the plans set forth.  I’ve learned over the years to be flexible and roll with “it”, but my soul work is waiting to finally and “once-and-for all” be completely healed of the “what if’s?” and constant reasoning.

Mother Teresa proclaimed that “God was not calling her to be successful, but to be faithful”.

The reality?

You will not be completely transformed until your death day–your funeral.  All your friends and loved ones will look on and listen to your legacy.  I can assure you the pastor or friend will talk about some of your flaws in order to add humor, or tell a story from your past that describes your earthly character. You will not be in the audience, so just remember the stories and tales are told to make those left behind feel more comfortable in their humanity.

You?

You will be in the presence of Jesus, transformed, and complete.  Your glory to glory transformation will done.

So, don’t be so hard on yourself and others. We are ALL in a cocoon called humanity.  God is at work in each of us. No one, not one of us is perfect.  You will fail.  You will struggle. It’s okay.

God loves you.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18