I don’t think I have ever been called Reckless. I’ve been a called a total wreck, a train wreck, wrecked, but not reckless. Possibly careless…
Why the word reckless this week?
This word was in a song at church this past week and it kept coming to mind the rest of the week so I thought, “Ok guess I am supposed to write about it.”
Definition: without thinking or caring about the consequences of an action.
Pretty sure I could’ve been called reckless. I have done many things in life without thinking or caring about the consequences of my actions. First thing that came to mind? Drinking, hands down. My drinking was reckless, out of control and I could have cared less who or what it damaged. Aka consequences.
"And don't get drunk with wine, which [leads to] reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit," - Ephesians 5:18
Whoops, blew that one.
Reckless today for me is texting while driving (hey, I use voice text.) Or going down our staircase carrying a laundry basket, a chair, a baby swing (no baby involved), a book, my phone, and the dry cleaning all in one trip. Simply so I can get it all in one trip. Heaven forbid, I get 20 extra steps in.
The other thing that came to mind when I started focusing on this word was this 80’s masterpiece:
Ah, yes classic 1984, my senior year of high school. Where rebellious football player Johnny falls for cheerleader Tracy. They come from opposite backgrounds: she's from a comfortable well-off family, his is poor and broken. Tracy already has a boyfriend but he acts like a jerk, so Johnny has to win Tracy's heart - something she seems reluctant to let him do.
If I remember correctly, Johnny tries to get the girl by doing a few “reckless” things to get her attention. It was the perfect date night movie.
Until Sunday, this was the extent of the word reckless in my experience. Which is why when I heard this song I was just fixated on it. I also happen to be a word junkie. Reckless just did not fit a description of my God.
“Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God”
Overwhelming, never-ending, those are good God words. But reckless? Which is why I decided to look up the definition and when I did, I was kind of wowed. God is willing to love me no matter what the consequence. Even if I reject him, deny him, blaspheme him, he keeps coming back for more. He doesn’t care how much I hurt him, he doesn’t leave. Loving me with reckless abandon.
If God was guarded with his love and grace, we would all be in trouble. Thank goodness he’s not. I am grateful for that today. That he hasn’t given up on me. It is considered reckless to love someone who keeps hurting you. As humans, we just don’t put up with that for very long. God keeps coming back for more. He believes in us - after all he created us. Maybe we need to love a little more with recklessness. Who is God asking you to love in spite of… ? You fill in the blank.
Stay Reckless,
Sherry