Thursday, October 20, 2011

Love Letter

He said to him, " 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." - Matthew 22:37-38 NRSV

Dear God,
I love you. Not just for your gifts, though I marvel at the beauty and wonder of your creation and I am thankful. Not just for your word, though I enjoy poring over the Scriptures you have given.

No, I love you for who you are.

You are endlessly patient. I know because you put up with me. You call, and even when I'm not paying attention, even when I intentionally ignore you, you keep nudging my consciousness, trying to reach my heart with your grace.

You are just. While the world shouts, pointing fingers and calling names and pushing agendas, you quietly hold out even scales, measuring everything against your holy standard, and pouring out mercy when we would tip the scales to hatred.

You are compassionate. You hear the cries of the hungry and promise that in your kin-dom all will have enough. You see the oppressed and the downtrodden and promise that you will bring liberation. You feel the pain of the sick and the outcast and promise that someday you will draw all your children into your healing embrace.

You are love. Within yourself, you are perfect mutual love: unity and diversity, three and one, a divine dance. You are love that reaches beyond yourself; you surround and envelop every living thing, you make relationship possible. Even when we would put up barriers and try to keep your love only for ourselves, you reach over around and through our walls and touch all of your creation.

I love you. Please make me more like you. Awaken me to your call. Rouse me to work for your justice. Soften me to share your compassion. But most of all, teach me to love as you love. Fill me up with you, with love, that your Spirit would pour through me and splash joyfully through the lives of everyone I meet.

Amen.