Today’s Bible reading

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Romans 8:38-39

More thoughts for meditation

As much as we are made for love and by love, we have many defenses against it. Many of us have been let down and wounded early on in our lives; we have been loved in imperfect ways by imperfect people, and so it is hard to trust.

The invitation of the spiritual life is to begin to become aware of the love that God has for us, and to trust that love as the ground of our being. It is not an impersonal force in the universe as Star Wars theology might suggest. Rather, it came personally delivered in a body, as a vulnerable person who stopped at nothing to love us.

Now, Love can lead us out of bed and into the adventures and challenges of really living. Jesus can call us back to rest in the evening and be as near as our breath through the difficulties of the night.  When other loves let us down, we are held by His.

Suggestions for action

Act: Pray for more awareness of God’s love for you. That is spiritual “seeing.” Ponder what keeps you from experiencing it throughout the day and note that to a friend or in your journal.

Rest: Listen to Seth Martin & The Menders sing The Lone Wild Bird and see if you can rest in the love of Christ for you. We changed the words “Great Spirit” to “lowly Jesus” so that we could be with Jesus in his sufferings as he is with us in ours. Love is vulnerable for Jesus just like it is vulnerable for us. But if you want to be with him, nothing can separate you from his love. Not now, or ever.