Our goal was to provide education on child welfare reform, so our non-profit decided to do a Facebook LIVE event. It had been years since I’d done one, but my fellow advocate Kelli agreed to guide me through. In preparation of the event, I’d rearranged the office so there was a clean background behind my computer frame. I’d added a bit more makeup so my face had some color and positioned the computer so the light didn’t glare in the background. I was all set when I connected with my friend to get me rolling. The only problem is that we couldn’t get it started.

We struggled for about 10 minutes and then finally decided to try it on my phone versus the computer. Frustrated, we again attempted to start the event. Unbeknown to me, once I switched to the phone, our event went LIVE, so the first few minutes of the presentation was my camera recording a view of my very messy desk, then me, then the wall, then me, then the computer screen, then the ceiling; well, you get the picture. In spite of all my efforts to create a calm, quiet, well-lit background, all my viewers were instead getting a view of my chaos.

By now, I had broken into a sweat, my mascara had smudged, and I felt ill from the stress. In other words, I was a HOT MESS! Realizing that we were rolling, my sweet friend told me to just start talking, so I did, apologizing for our rough start and then sharing the prepared presentation as Kelli sent me messages assuring me that all was going well. Twenty minutes later, the information had been delivered. A day later, hundreds had watched it, and I had just shown them all how to NOT start a LIVE presentation!

The chaos of this presentation caused me to think of the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25. As the bridesmaids waited for their bridegroom to return home, they brought lamps with oil. They all thought they were prepared, but some didn’t anticipate how long they’d have to wait, thus didn’t bring adequate supplies. When they realized this, they were forced to go purchase more oil and in doing so, missed the return of the bridegroom. Can you imagine their frustration having to go find oil at the last minute? Or their tremendous regret when, upon locating oil, they’d missed the homecoming? Talk about a hot mess!

Prepared or not, Jesus will be returning someday. It might not be how or when we expect it. Our mascara might be smudged and our house a mess, but when he comes, all He will care about is if our heart has been prepared for Him. For us mere humans, it feels like we’ve been waiting a long time for Jesus’ return. One might think it will never happen and yet, one day it will, ready or not! For those of us who have invited Jesus to be our Lord and Savior, we’ll be LIVE in His presence, something so amazing that it’s hard to imagine. You don’t want to be left out simply because you weren’t prepared. Invite Jesus to be your Savior and then live as if today could be the day you will meet Him face to face. You never know, it could be!