[Caveat emptor: if you are not a fan of The Princess Bride, you may not appreciate fully what follows.]
Have you accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior?
All right, so that is the stereotypical mainstream evangelical question that—to put it quite bluntly—leaves out two whole persons of the Trinity. I have no intention of making a theological statement on that point (at least not right now), but the reason I bring up this question is because it serves as a means to point to one particular word in relation to God: personal.
As I look back on my growing relationship with my Lord, I see that it is becoming more and more personal. It is less about abstract ideas of perfectionism disguised as sanctity and more about opening myself up amidst the mess of reality and letting God enter in so I can have a real relationship with Him.
Let me illustrate my point: the other day I was so ill I did not feel like eating and for one who typically has to eat every three hours or so that is a clear indication of being sick. I had also come mighty near passing out, along with having other typical flu symptoms. Yet despite my illness I had to work and somehow—by the grace of God—I got through setting up for the show and had time to rest. So I used that precious time to nap. When I woke, I did not want to rise from my bed even though I knew I had to. As I lay there, urging myself with duty and finding duty insufficient motivation, I asked myself what could possibly be enough to make me rise from the bed.
All of a sudden it came to me: true love.
I knew at that moment that it was in truth the only thing that could compel me to rise. So I said to my Lord: "But, then again...perhaps I have the strength after all," and rose slowly, feeling something as if I had been mostly dead all day.
I bet He laughed at our little joke. After all, don't you think He had some part in inspiring that idea?
Dear Jac,
ReplyDeleteA treasure to read, as your words are always.
My only ones in return are to say simply that I agree with my entire heart: that, yes, all I feel I can give (either at the beginning or at the end of anything, a friendship, a task or a situation) is the little truth of my love, such as it is in such moments. True love. Such a little hidden thing most of the time, in my experience. Yet it changes, I must believe, the world even if that transformation happens behind-the-scenes.
Like when you gave your true love in getting up from dead-tiredness, to go and do your duty. That next-right-thing.
I think such moments as that one of yours are the most beautiful moments of our lives.
Yours in the true love of Christ,
Louis
Dear Louis,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for taking the time to read and to comment. I think you are absolutely right that such moments when we out of love fulfill that duty of the moment are the most beautiful moments of our lives. Lately I reflect much upon the words from the Gospel: how in the end all that matters is love.
Yours also in Christ's true love,
+Jac