In our Lenten group at church on Sunday evening the talk encouraged us
to think about how God looks at us,
and then to take a few minutes to consider what God may want to say to us as
He/She gazed at us.
If, in my tiredness, I was expecting little other than a warm silence
I was pulled up short as something I thought I "knew"
If, in my tiredness, I was expecting little other than a warm silence
I was pulled up short as something I thought I "knew"
came at me in an unexpected way.
To my surprise I "heard" just one word.
Inseparable.
Trying to get my head around this, I thought,
"It's true I need to feel you near me Lord..."
but no that wasn't it.
The word just gently lay in my heart and mind as I leant in
to accept the truth which seemed
too strange and big.
We are inseparable.
God and I.
One.
Without this being true, you, I, all things would not exist.
Would not "hold together", as some translations of the first words of John's gospel put it.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[it.
(My highlighting).
(My highlighting).
And of course Romans 8: 38-39 tells us nothing can separate us from God's love in Christ Jesus.
But this is an after thought, (mine as I write now, not St. Paul's when he wrote Romans !)
from the original one which tells us the mind boggling truth,
that as much as God's creation would not be complete without us,
in some wonderful way God, (however we understand that term)
would not be complete without us.
You, me, all things.
We are inseparable from God,
One with God.
In God.
No matter how much distance we may FEEL there is between us.
No matter who or what we think we are, or are not,
We are inseparable,
(one with),
God,
each other,
and all creation.
Perhaps you would like to take a moment of quiet to let this thought, and this word
inseparable
sink into you.
Let images, or words,
arise as they will
out of that one word.
Let all other things,
and thoughts,
flow off, and around you.
Pay them no mind.
They are not for this moment.
Rest now.
Breathe,
and live,
and simply be, with this word
inseparable
for as long as it takes.
Perhaps you would like to take a moment of quiet to let this thought, and this word
inseparable
sink into you.
Let images, or words,
arise as they will
out of that one word.
Let all other things,
and thoughts,
flow off, and around you.
Pay them no mind.
They are not for this moment.
Rest now.
Breathe,
and live,
and simply be, with this word
inseparable
for as long as it takes.
May a new truth break upon you today.
Be Blessed
Hazel, how amazing that you should post this reflection now. Last evening I was speaking with the RCIA (about 70 people with sponsors and team) about the grace of God and I quoted Romans 8:37-39 but had to stop in the middle because I was overcome with amazement at the truth of these verses. The RCIA is accustomed to this with me as they understand that I have the "gift of tears" which embarrasses me at times but I'm beginning to accept who I am - it's about time!
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you as you journey through this marvellous season of Lent.
I love this synchronicity Lynda! (In more ways than one). I find the same overwhelming of the Spirit as I preach, am in prayer, or am in conversation sometimes. Being a quite shy person "in the natural" as some people say I too have had to learn to just accept it for what it is.
ReplyDeleteI WAS a bit surprised once at a conference to be grabbed in a vice like grip by a lady, who put her arms around me, saying, " Never mind dear!" I think she was embarrassed. - I felt like saying "It's all right they aren't my tears." (I am also not that tender hearted "in the natural" ) but I think that would have just made things worse! God definitely has a sense of humour.
Love, Blessing and Gratitude, x