Michelle's Musings - June

I took Flat Jesus with me on vacation. He's with me now, in fact. Spending all this time with him has given me pause to think more seriously about what it means to spend time with Flat Jesus. Which sounds kind of silly, I suppose. But sometimes, when we aren't sure what we believe about things, we can get ourselves very messed up.

So, here are two stories about my time with Flat Jesus, which illustrate larger points about what we believe about F.J., and about God generally.

In order to save a little money (well, a LOT of money), I booked a flight that departed from Washington, DC, instead of Pittsburgh. Then, I planned to ride down to DC with someone, rather than having to pay to park my own car in an airport lot for two weeks.

It was a brilliant plan, until the car stopped working on the drive down. Or, more precisely, stopped being steerable. We pulled off the Turnpike, called AAA, and proceeded to think through how we might still get me on my flight on time. We were still more than 150 miles from the airport, and we had no idea whether this was an easy repair or a complete overhaul job.

About two hours later, we stared nervously out the repair shop's waiting room window. We needed a part. It had been ordered. The mechanic had assured us that the part would be here before we could finish the paperwork to rent a car, but time was running short. We saw a man walk into the shop, with a small package in his hand. "It's the water pump!" exclaimed my traveling companion. "Hot d---, Flat Jesus!"

I gave her a funny look. "That's a series of words I never expected to hear together."

"Flat Jesus understands."

So, here's the thing about Flat Jesus: He's an icon, of sorts. He reminds us of the presence of God, and of all that Jesus is. But, he doesn't prevent bad things from happening to us. That would make him an amulet, or a charm. And, praying to him or with him doesn't make things better. Because that would take away God's grace.

What Flat Jesus does is remind us that, in the midst of our troubles, Jesus is with us. And, as my travelling companion reminded me, Jesus understands our fears and frustrations.

I spent a lot of my vacation visiting old friends and relatives. One day, while I was having lunch with the family where I had lived as an exchange student, my host collapsed. He fell back in his chair, the apple rolled out of his hand. He came to before we had a chance to call the Dutch equivalent of 911. He insisted he was fine, but didn't look it. He was, of course, trying to be a good host. I gracefully suggested I would like to go take a

walk on the beach nearby, so they could go to the doctor and get things checked out. After we hastily made plans to get together for dinner later, I found myself on the beach. I pulled out Flat Jesus, to take a picture for Facebook.

"So, Flat Jesus, should we pray for the family?" I asked. And, however strange it may sound, it felt easier to pray with Flat Jesus, there on the beach. He was a reminder that Jesus really is with me, as I travel, and wherever I am.