series.

Not up, but out.

Not down, but around.

In explaining the path of the Christian life, a wise man makes these claims.

That so often we judge our lives in steps, these series of ups, downs and leveling. These attempts to make it to the next goal. To become more spiritual. To climb closer to God.

I imagined a little stick figure (me), on some steps, trying my hardest to reach up to the next...but it's just out of reach.

Always reaching up. Always trying. Always climbing. Always failing. Always stuck.

But no, I am told.

The Christian life is a different kind of series. It's a series of circles - shapes, really -  maybe even paths - where Jesus is in the middle.

And we are constantly in this movement of wandering from Christ and being drawn back into Him.

I am struck by this thought and cannot stop thinking about little stick figure me - reaching up for the next step but never quite making it before I fall back.

Then I see the other option, the other way. The wandering way. I am always wandering. And He is always binding my heart back to His.

And once again, I realize: this too is grace.