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    Every now and then, I read or hear a phrase that really captures my attention. I found one such maxim the other day, and I haven’t been able to get it out of my mind. I found it in a novel by the popular writer, Andrew M. Greeley.

    Greeley is an interesting amalgamation of Catholic priest, sociologist, and psychologist. He has done very well for himself as a best-selling author. His novels explore the challenges inherent in the lives of the clergy — the tension between the spiritual ideal and the imperfect human reality. Often, his central characters are officials of the Catholic church who are coping with sin or a faltering faith. Some of his stories have happy endings and, just like life, some don’t.

    The phrase that caught my attention was, “God draws straight with crooked lines.” What an encouraging statement! And how true! He’s been doing it since the beginning of the world, since the first sin.

“God draws straight with crooked lines.”

    Consider the “great” men and women of faith in the Old and New Testaments. Abraham, the friend of God, who didn’t seem to be able to tell the truth about Sarah. Was she his wife or his sister? And Sarah — she giggled at God. David, a man after God’s own heart, gave in to lust and committed adultery and murder. Paul had Christian-killing on his resume. Peter denied Christ, not once but three times, and I’m not sure he ever got comfortable with the blended fellowship of Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians.

    Yet, in the middle of all their sin, all their failure, all their confusion, God used these flawed folk to bring about His will. He drew straight with crooked lines. And He’s still doing it today!

    He can take our lives, as well or as poorly as we have lived them, forgive the sin, blend the mismatched colors, soften the rough edges, and straighten the crooked lines, thereby molding them into the ultimate perfection of His will.

    So you’ve discovered you’re not perfect? Or maybe, shock of all shocks, you have noticed that your husband, your wife, your children, even the people you go to church with aren’t perfect either? Well, welcome to the Crooked Line Club! Drop the pretence of perfection. God is perfect, we’re not. Stay faithful. Keep your eyes open — and watch as God draws straight with crooked lines.