Lenten Day Thirty-two: Brennan Manning

Richard Francis Xavier Manning, known as Brennan Manning, was an American author, former Roman Catholic priest, and public speaker, known for his bestselling book, The Ragamuffin Gospel.   While a priest, he admitted that though he could preach a gospel of love with full conviction to others, he constantly struggled to believe that same love was extended also to him.  Despite those struggles and many detours, Manning shared his flaws to show that God extends grace to even the messiest people.  He describes his journey and God’s unconditional love in his book The Rabbi’s Heartbeat, from which today’s quotation comes and which I highly recommend.

As I reflect on this quotation today, I am reminded of nothing holier than a line from a silly romance movie, Bridget Jones’ Diary, in which Renee Zellweger plays a ditzy young Londoner (Bridget Jones) who has all the social graces of an octopus. It follows her series of run-ins with a handsome, sophisticated attorney (Mark Darcy), well-played by Colin Firth. At one point, after Bridget has made a national joke of herself on TV and uttered many a ridiculous remark in public, she flees in embarrassment from a dinner party, but the socially proper Mark Darcy tries to stop her.  As he does, she interrupts him, listing all her own faults first because she thinks he is about to make fun of her and add another insult.  Instead, when she is finished, he faces her and says quietly, “I just wanted to say that I like you.  I like you, just the way you are.” 

To hear that we are liked/loved /accepted “just the way you are” is a remarkable gift, to be accepted “just the way you are,” whether overweight or underweight; blond, brunette, redhead, or bald; messy or neat; punctual or tardy; young or old; socially correct or a bull in a china shop; black, white, red, brown; Democrat, Republican, Independent, or none of the above; Jew or Gentile; heterosexual, homosexual, or other; rich or poor; short or tall.  Children yearn for that kind of love and face many challenges if they do not receive it.  Adults want it, too, though we are better at covering up or denying our need for it. 

On this Lenten morning, I wonder when the last time was that I told my children, my granddaughter, that I love them “just the way they are”?  I really can’t recall the last time I told my spouse that.  Or any of my friends.  Come to think of it, I can’t remember the last time anyone told me that I was loved “just the way you are,” except for Jesus the Christ, who through his many healings and relationships demonstrated that he met and accepted others (including me, and you) right where they were, just as they were.  That kind of love is what transforms us.

As I’ve written elsewhere, I also wonder, “When was the last time I told myself that I am loved and loveable “just the way I am”?  That’s a leap of faith statement, isn’t it?  It’s why Manning wrote that “Faith is the courage to accept acceptance” because he took that leap and landed in Love.  Accepting acceptance.  Faith is the courage to believe that we are, indeed, unconditionally loved by the Divine just the way we are.  When we are brave enough to accept that truth, then we are able to love others just the way they are, without trying to improve them or shame them, correct them or straighten them out.

If the story of Lent is about anything, isn’t it about being loved “just the way you are”?

Blessings ~ Rosemary