Thursday, March 17, 2022

THE GRACE OF GOD'S LOVE

It was an important waking-up. My familiar default was to rely on old voices and experiences—on the mind’s many concepts and ideas. Yet the force of love that sustains life is not a concept, and there are not a set of holy conditions to attain. As I opened my heart, love moved through the pain and slowly changed my sight. Things that once seemed fixed and defining were unmasked. -- Fr Richard Rohr, "Daily Meditation," March 1, 2022 

That quote so accurately describes what I have just trudged through...with more to come no doubt...that I need write nothing further. But, as we know, need and want are two different things, and I want to get clearer for when, not if, I am looking back and longing for the freedom of my chains...to quote from a favorite song, "Loving Arms."  

Today, March 17, is my brother's 86th birthdate. The past few weeks memories of him have come to me...of him becoming ill in 1948, of his death three months after his first headache...and have come so unexpectedly as to have God's hand clearly on them. 

I have touched on this in my writing, and with every word written the new memories have clarified...just a tish but a tish each time. 

More enlightening to me has been the hesitancy of friends to listen much less talk about this time-trip. I would have expected and I allowed that to hurt which, I am convinced, is how I realized the love in their hesitancy...and I am righted. 

In that realization was an important waking-up...and therein is the truth in the above quote. As I opened my heart, love moved through the pain and slowly changed my sight.

My familiar default was to rely on old voices and experiences—on the mind’s many concepts and ideas. If others had endlessly listened, talked, encouraged me toward the same, my old familiar default would still be in place.

I expect...actually know from my own experience...there will be more insights and enlightenments to come. Purely by the grace of God along with hard-earned willingness, it is my response that will have changed.

Oh, to feel the grace of God's love is beyond imagining.

Thank you.

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