Some days, my heart aches so much for the church that tears sting the corners of my eyes. Today is one of those days. It seems to me that the church should be a place that—more than anywhere else—helps people flourish, freeing them to be the people that God created them to be. Can you imagine the church helping people find their identity, purpose, and mission and setting them free to live in radical, kingdom ways? When I catch a glimpse of that vision, my heart leaps with joy

Lucy recently learned to wave. One day while she was sitting in her highchair eating lunch, she waved at me. When I waved back, Lucy’s eyes widened, a huge grin spilling across her face. Then she waved again, and I waved back. This time she excitedly screamed out. Again and again she waved, excited to see me wave back each time. Can you imagine realizing for the first time that you can communicate with others? That by gesturing, you can get another person to gesture back? In