Alabaster Jar

I was reading about alabaster tonight after spending some time with Jesus.
I was surprised to discover that there are two main types. Hard, and Soft.
Soft alabaster is easier to work with as it is easily effected by pressure and abrasion.
The hard alabaster is not as easy to form, but when it is formed, it is more resilient for common use. Cynically, I would expect to hear an analogy from a pulpit somewhere discussing why it is important to be soft alabaster...that is is easier to mold and shape. But really, if you read more about it, both types have a distinct purpose. For intricate and highly decorative work, soft alabaster would be the obvious choice. For making a vessel that is resilient in more that one specific use,and will maintain its shape in a variety of situations, hard alabaster is better suited.
Tonight I saw a picture of two people discussing what God was about to do in the city where I live. I saw both of them having difficulty coming to terms with the approach of the other.
I heard the phrase "The heart tells the liver, "its all about getting the blood to the body" The liver tells the heart, "Its all about keeping the blood clean"
The truth of the matter is, without both being singularly focused on what they do, the body would collapse.

Over the last couple weeks, Ive been spending time with a very wide variety of people who identify themselves as Christians. People with very different socio-political views, approaches to life, and subcultural preferences.
It is often amusing to me that when these groups are exposed to each other they exhibit a certain level of discomfort. Maybe it shouldn't amuse me, but it does. I think its interesting how closely we guard our opinions. Myself included. But I wonder what it is that we are afraid of exactly. Are we afraid that listening to another view with an open heart will suddenly change our faith? That we will be inextricably altered beyond repair somehow? When you look at it objectively, its really a pretty ridiculous notion, but the fear seems to make it a reality. I think sometimes that we have this view of what Unity is..and in many ways, its debilitating. We seem to think that Unity is thinking exactly the same things on all points. Having a hierarchical view of importance that must be adhered to.
I don't think thats the case. The heart and liver could teach us alot about this. Chances are, you wont see the heart and the liver at a coffee shop together. They live pretty far away from each other, and are usually pretty busy. Their lives are very different. One votes redblood, the other votes blue. But when the Heart starts thinking the liver needs to change into a heart, or vise-versa you have a problem. In many ways, Unity is contingent on letting others be very different from you, and listening to what is motivating them when you have a chance. I wonder if the real problem is that we dont know what we are here for individually.
I personally believe that "Doing what we see the Father doing" is very personal. I think of Eric Liddel the Olympic Athlete. When His sister was chastising him for "not following the call" He told her "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure."
Why do we translate "I only do what I see the Father doing" into "If I am not accomplishing this subset of expectations I am not doing what I should?"
What I see the Father doing right now is sparking, and using the socialmedia culture revolution to build Kingdom foundations into society.
I have a friend who sees art in everything...hears God speaking in colors and brush. If both of us abandoned these heart felt visions for a subset of religious shoulds, we would quickly find ourselves deeply unmotivated and living a life of obligation. God is not like this. He is not a God of obligation, guilt, or manipulation. He gives without asking anything in return. He loves because that is who He is. He choses to be Himself.I have on more than one occasion felt Him as excited as a wonder filled child at the idea of a new venture. As excited as my nephew when you collaborate with him to build something for his cars. As excited as a Father on Christmas morning knowing what is underneath the wrapping paper... "wait until they open THIS!" That is just what He is like. He loves to give...to collaborate to create. He loves redeemed creative passion.

I think its amazing that Alabaster has such a strong symbolism for us Christians because of the act of one woman. She looked around her life, and found the one thing that was most valuable.
The thing she was best at. That regardless of what religion judged her as, represented her beauty, and value. And she poured it out. With passion. Jesus knew what it was. Purity. Love.
I wonder if in the coming days we will be ready for the shape of some of the Alabaster Jars that are being brought to the feet of Jesus.

The reality is, the Heart and the Liver probably wont hang out much. And really thats O.K. Because they have a purpose. A calling. A focus. I think that most days they appreciate each other from a distance...for doing things that the other doesn't understand. They just know that the body would not function without them, and the have the same Head,the same blood, the same purpose.
In the end that is what matters.