"I want neither a terrorist spirituality that keeps me in a perpetual
state of fright about being in right relationship with my heavenly
Father nor a sappy spirituality that portrays God as such a benign teddy
bear that there is no aberrant behavior or desire of mine that he will
not condone. I want a relationship with the Abba of Jesus, who is
infinitely compassionate with my brokenness and at the same time an
awesome, incomprehensible, and unwieldy Mystery. " – Brennan Manning

It is always a good sign when the kind of anything we want is the kind of anything that it is – or anyone.

Manning expresses a desire for the kind of Jesus that I see in the gospels, the kind that I know from experience, and the kind I see reflected in the lives of people who know Him.

He is, at the same time, soft and rugged, kind and tough, non-judgmental and brutally honest. He is the incarnate one who can be known and wholly Other who is beyond our reach.

When Word becomes flesh, it is an entirely new ballgame with which there is no comparison to aid our understanding.

And that's the way I like it!