Why is it hard for us to Love?

It is really hard to say given that we have someone who loves us so much.  God knew us before we were born.  He created us with every special detail.  He made us beautiful and in His image.

He knew before He created us that He would sacrifice His own life for us.  He knew before He created us that He would die a brutal death on a cross but He created us anyways.  He was in love with us before we were born.  He didn’t care what it cost to have us, to be with us.

He knew we would break His heart. He knew we would reject Him. He knew we would choose other things, much less important things, over Him. Things that would hurt us. Things that would lie to us. Things that would imprison us. Things that would cause us pain. But He still created us.

Why? Was He hurting for people to worship Him? Was He desperate for attention? Did He need someone to tell Him how wonderful He is? Did he need someone to live His life through? Did He need help taking care of the first days of creation? The birds, the fish, the fields.

If we weren't there to worship Him the rocks would cry out. If we didn’t exist He would still have the angels all around Him, worshipping Him, singing Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty. They didn’t question His existence. They didn’t worship other things. He had no need to create a people that would. But He was in Love.

He loved us even though we were of no use to Him whatsoever. He pursued us even though He knew we would turn away from Him. He forgives us over and over again. He chases us, comforts us, and rescues us. He doesn’t force us. He doesn’t pick favorites.  He doesn’t ignore the broken. He befriends the outcasts. He touches the unclean. He makes time for those in despair. He finds the lost. He heals the sick.

We were lost. We were broken. We were in despair. We were pursued. We were comforted. We were forgiven. We are adopted. We are chosen. We are loved. So why is it so hard for us to Love? Why is it so hard for us to forgive? Why do we feel the need to pick favorites and label the outcasts?

Should we not love because He first loved us? Should we not forgive because He forgave us?  Or pursue because He pursued us?

“Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.” Ephesians 5:1-2 Mess.

Eyes Up!

It is no secret that children are often in their own world.  One day our eight year old stopped dead in his tracks in the middle of a store, pulled a wrapping paper tube out of a box, and looked through the end of it.

At times I wish I could be like my child.  At times I wish I could count how many tiles were on the floor at the market.  At times I wish I could walk backwards just to see if I would run into anything. At times I wish I could stop and look to see if the world looks any different through the end of a tube of wrapping paper.  Maybe it would change what I see.  Maybe it would change how I see it.
 

I tell my children “eyes up” when we were out in public, so they pay attention to their surroundings.  I want them to be careful not to run into someone.  I want them to learn that they are not the only ones in the store.  I want them to look out for others and to let others go ahead.  I want my children to see what happens when they keep their eyes up.

My children would then see people. People with their eyes down. Only they are not counting tiles on the floor. They are simply struggling to look up. To have hope. My children would see people; people running into things.  Only they are not walking backwards.  They are being hit by the hard things in life. Colliding with never-ending roadblocks that seem to impede their every move. My children would see people; people who are not paying attention.  Only they don’t seem to notice they are not the only ones in the store.  My children would see people; people who look out.  Only they do not look for others they look to go ahead.

If my children have their eyes up they can lift up the people who look down.  If my children have their eyes up they can give direction to the people who are running into things.  If my children have their eyes up they can sacrifice for the people who are not paying attention.  If my children have their eyes up they can demonstrate to the people, who look to go ahead, what it looks like to generously be last.

Yes, the world could look different if we stop in the middle of a store and look through the end of a wrapping paper tube.  The world could be different if we teach our children walk around with their eyes up.

 

Words On Paper~

I walk in. I am confused. There are people moving around.  They are rushing to get somewhere.  Hurrying in and out.  Never looking back.  Rushing through doors opened by someone else without a word.  No thank you’s are spoken.  No offerings are given.  I look around longing for someone to notice me.   To say hello.  To welcome me into what is already happening.   To speak to my son.  He has questions.  Is this for real?  But they are too busy.  Hurrying.  Doing.  To slow down and notice their purpose is right in front of them.  Someone longing to be pursued.  To be loved.

Then I move towards them.  I pursue them.  I slow down to engage them.  I have them for a moment.  Then it is gone.  Without a look back they are gone. Rushing again.  Where are they going?  I follow.  I hear someone talking.  Sharing words.  Words on paper.  Words that make sense to me.  Words that tell. Words that tell us to love.  Words that tell us to serve.  Words that tell us to engage.  Words that tell us to commune.  Words that tell us to pursue.  Words that tell us to sacrifice.  Words that tell us to pray.  Words that tell us to worship.

I look around.  I see people sitting.  I see people listening.  I see people receiving.  I hear them now.  They are singing.  Words on paper.  Words that say we are loved.  Words that say we are forgiven.  Words that say we are free.  And then it’s gone. 

The lights become bright.  People are moving.  They are rushing.  Hurrying.  They move without a thought. They get up before praying.  They go without serving.   They disconnect before communing. They depart without loving.  They are too busy to put words into action.  They leave words on paper.

How can we slow them down?  How can we show them that the words became flesh?  A sacrifice was made so our work could again become worship.  Our love become service.  Our world become pursued.  Our lives become worth living.  Our sacrifices become joy.  Our prayers become offerings.  Our words become flesh. 

We become the church.