Simul iustus et peccator

or broken and beautiful, saint and sinner, sanctified and being sanctified...simultaneously saint and sinner is the literal translation of this Latin phrase. On a side note...having a Latin phrase to quote is just cool.
We are so amazingly bad at staying good. We are so amazingly good at being bad. I saw this phrase at a beautician shop and though I won't quote it exactly you will get the gist. "Thank you God that today I have not lied, sworn, been envious, or even slandered I have been lovely to my husband and fair to my children. I have eaten only what is on my diet....When I get out of bed, would you help me the rest of the day". It really is in the living that being a saint seems impossible and a sinner so probable. I think I am doing so well when not a minute later I simultaneously eat to much, slander my co-worker, envy an outfit, think bad thoughts about someone who has succeeded and kick the dog. OK, I don't kick the dog but I want to...and won't because the dog will pee on the carpet and I have to immediately pay for my sin.
Otherwise...I really don't pay for being bad...not immediately or I probably wouldn't be bad so frequently.
Being bad is also so relative to how much grace we enjoy and how close we are in our relationship with Jesus. I can excuse my bad...not so much in others. Seriously, we are warped human beings stuffed into these walking tents. What does He see anyway? Broken and beautiful, tandem realities expressing grace and truth: selfish and selfless...myopic and global...kind and cruel...May God grace us with eyes to see the reality of who we are and then the humility to stand alone in the circle of His light. Authentic faith in a real world in broken vessels leaning helplessly on to the Giver of life. I am what I am...but never have to remain !!!
Hallelujah, what a Savior.