TOO BUSY TO LOVE

I'm not sure where, when, or why I took this picture. I think it is from Vancouver last fall; the year has flown, children have grown - one of our sons spent the year on Thetis Island and has now returned to the East Coast. I, on the other hand, have stayed here raising others, trying to raise my chin to heaven asking for help: the daily struggle with fear keeps me from loving.

 What keeps you from sharing your heart and God's love with others?

How do I find myself on the storm-tossed sea of doubt and fear instead of nestled into a safe harbor of hope and peace? It isn't difficult, really, just examine your deepest fear. It often swirls around doing enough or being enough. With children your worry or challenge could be: "Am I doing enough, have I said enough, am I involved enough or too much? Will they be friends when they're grown. Do they have all they need for life and godliness?" If you don't have children you might ask: "Why, and what am I to do with all the love and life I have to give?" If you're single you worry: "Am I enough, will I have a companion, do I need one, who will provide for me, should I have gotten married or stayed married?" Life causes us to question our value, yet God asks us to bring our life to the table allowing His life in us to inform and transform us.

When I visited our oldest son last fall we biked over the Golden Gate Bridge. I want to be a bridge, living so others can see God in me and know His love by knowing me. Interesting, though, "Perfect love casts out fear." 1 John 4:18 When I am busy with fear I'm not loving. If I place my fears for my children, my family, my world and myself in His hands I am free to love. I had to trust our son as he led me through the streets of San Fransisco and over the bridge and I need to trust the God who made me with my questions and allow Him to have my fears and fill my heart with His love.

I met a lovely Mom here last fall, we had breakfast and she shared all her concerns for her son. As we feasted I thought of the many ways God longs to do this with us: He longs to sit and dine with us, have us share all our cares with Him and go away comforted. I find though, I can be too busy with my own thoughts to entertain the Divine.

How are you doing dining with God?

Medicine from Sacred Scriptures:

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with Me."

 Revelation 3:20