i was reading a friend's blog and saw the following comment:

what a poignant account of the narative we all have in our hearts. would that we all recognized how desperate we are; the faithful hide their desperation so well. thomas merton once said that harlem proclaims its sin from the roof tops while hollywood covers it in glitter. as the years pass, i recognize, if only in the barest, slightest whisperings of my soul, that it is better to be harlem. at least then my self-deception is washed away and though left raw, i am free. free to be healed and to start again and follow the Lord in any way i may. this is the gospel, i think...this is Christ. and i like to say that again and again whenever i remember.

I think that i agree, when God scrubs off the dirt it leaves me raw, but at least I am clean and free.