| Rev Deborah - Reflections 12/02/07 | | Print | |
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To see this reflection complete with illustrations, go to:
and select "This week's reflection" ~ You are welcome to forward this to others, please credit the author. ~ The Gift of Love
This coming Wednesday, February 14th, is Valentine's Day. I'm telling you this in case you've been living underground for the past several weeks and thus missed out on the advertising for diamonds, stuffed animals, cards, candy, and flowers. It's a funny sort of celebration of "love." And I don't mean only the efforts by the mercantile powers to convince us that relationships are built on the model of commerce — on a "return on investment." If I love you T-H-I-S M-U-C-H I'll buy you a big heart-shaped box of chocolates. But if our relationship is a little rocky, you'll get the Valentine's Day equivalent of coal in your stocking: a token remembrance of some sort; maybe a coupon for a slurpee at 7-11. If you've ever been in love you know perfectly well that experience — that sensation of breathless joy and elation — cannot be bought. What can compare? A hundred pounds of chocolate? A jewelry box filled with emeralds? A Lexus in the driveway? Worthless in comparison. Nothing else can put us into the state of chronic delight that love bestows. Love makes us feel alive; it is as if all our senses are renewed and reawakened. We are keenly aware of the depth of the night sky and the brilliance of the stars. The sun is warmer, the grass is greener, the flowers more fragrant. The birds sing their morning glorias just for us. Our hearts are filled with joy and hope and sweet expectation. At any moment our beloved may call, and we will hear the voice that makes our soul dance. Love. It makes us a little bit crazy; a sweet intoxication that infuses us with tender concern for all the world. Our happiness bubbles over into every aspect of our lives: we smile at strangers, go out of our way to hold open doors, replace the paper in the photocopy machine, and speak kindly to everyone we meet. Minor annoyances cause us no distress — instead we mentally file the events as stories to tell our sweetheart when next we speak. Love. When we are in love, forgiveness is our middle name. If our beloved is late, we constantly check the time and keep an anxious vigil. The moment we catch sight of that dear face our heart is filled with relief and joy. We do not complain or shout condemnations — but leap to our feet to hold our sweetheart in a tender embrace. Love. It cures us of selfishness: our thoughts are always directed to our beloved. Everything reminds us of our dear one: a joke we know will bring laughter, a song that will delight, a story that will be of interest. Their sadness is our sadness, their joys are our joys. It is as if our "two hearts have but a single beat." Love. Love changes everything. For God so loved the world .... God — our Beloved — sent us the radiant Lord Christ: the gift of Love Incarnate. He came not to condemn, but to bless, to teach, and to guide. In His life we have Life: compassion, kindness, faith, and love.
God loves us. Love. That unreasoning, illogical, wildly passionate and transforming at-one-ness is how our Beloved feels about us. That is the Gospel message the Lord Christ brought to us. We have been given the most perfect and beautiful Valentine by One who will love us forever and ever. Live in that love. Happy Valentine's Day, Deborah + This Week's Suggested Spiritual Exercise: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JOIN OUR LIST: If you would like the weekly Reflection to be sent directly to your email address, you may join our list for free by emailing dbgiordano@comcast.net with the word "Reflections" in the subject or body of the email. The Reflections mailing list is NOT used for any other purpose.
UNSUBSCRIBE: If you no longer wish to receive the weekly Reflection, reply to this email with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject or body of the email. and select "This week's reflection" ~ You are welcome to forward this to others, please credit the author. ~ and select "This week's reflection" ~ You are welcome to forward this to others, please credit the author. ~ The Gift of Love
This coming Wednesday, February 14th, is Valentine's Day. I'm telling you this in case you've been living underground for the past several weeks and thus missed out on the advertising for diamonds, stuffed animals, cards, candy, and flowers. It's a funny sort of celebration of "love." And I don't mean only the efforts by the mercantile powers to convince us that relationships are built on the model of commerce — on a "return on investment." If I love you T-H-I-S M-U-C-H I'll buy you a big heart-shaped box of chocolates. But if our relationship is a little rocky, you'll get the Valentine's Day equivalent of coal in your stocking: a token remembrance of some sort; maybe a coupon for a slurpee at 7-11. If you've ever been in love you know perfectly well that experience — that sensation of breathless joy and elation — cannot be bought. What can compare? A hundred pounds of chocolate? A jewelry box filled with emeralds? A Lexus in the driveway? Worthless in comparison. Nothing else can put us into the state of chronic delight that love bestows. Love makes us feel alive; it is as if all our senses are renewed and reawakened. We are keenly aware of the depth of the night sky and the brilliance of the stars. The sun is warmer, the grass is greener, the flowers more fragrant. The birds sing their morning glorias just for us. Our hearts are filled with joy and hope and sweet expectation. At any moment our beloved may call, and we will hear the voice that makes our soul dance. Love. It makes us a little bit crazy; a sweet intoxication that infuses us with tender concern for all the world. Our happiness bubbles over into every aspect of our lives: we smile at strangers, go out of our way to hold open doors, replace the paper in the photocopy machine, and speak kindly to everyone we meet. Minor annoyances cause us no distress — instead we mentally file the events as stories to tell our sweetheart when next we speak. Love. When we are in love, forgiveness is our middle name. If our beloved is late, we constantly check the time and keep an anxious vigil. The moment we catch sight of that dear face our heart is filled with relief and joy. We do not complain or shout condemnations — but leap to our feet to hold our sweetheart in a tender embrace. Love. It cures us of selfishness: our thoughts are always directed to our beloved. Everything reminds us of our dear one: a joke we know will bring laughter, a song that will delight, a story that will be of interest. Their sadness is our sadness, their joys are our joys. It is as if our "two hearts have but a single beat." Love. Love changes everything. For God so loved the world .... God — our Beloved — sent us the radiant Lord Christ: the gift of Love Incarnate. He came not to condemn, but to bless, to teach, and to guide. In His life we have Life: compassion, kindness, faith, and love.
God loves us. Love. That unreasoning, illogical, wildly passionate and transforming at-one-ness is how our Beloved feels about us. That is the Gospel message the Lord Christ brought to us. We have been given the most perfect and beautiful Valentine by One who will love us forever and ever. Live in that love. Happy Valentine's Day, Deborah + This Week's Suggested Spiritual Exercise: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JOIN OUR LIST: If you would like the weekly Reflection to be sent directly to your email address, you may join our list for free by emailing dbgiordano@comcast.net with the word "Reflections" in the subject or body of the email. The Reflections mailing list is NOT used for any other purpose.
UNSUBSCRIBE: If you no longer wish to receive the weekly Reflection, reply to this email with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject or body of the email. |
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