I hope you all are well. Life has been full, lately. When people say their life is "full" I assume they mean full of good, successful, productive ventures. But when I say "full" tonight, I mean it has been full of growth. And you know what growth means.... uncomfortableness! awkwardness! change! having to rely on the Lord! Nonetheless, growth is good. In times of a lot of growth, I feel the need for constant affirmation. Just like a baby taking toddling steps toward her oohing and ahhing mom and dad, I need messages of love from the Lord and close friends to continue to move forward instead of back into comforting sameness.
I sometimes read a blog called "Experimental Theology" written by a psychology professor from Abilene Christian University in Texas. The professor posted a great quote by Dorothy Day that I want to share. During this season of feeling needy for love and affirmation, this quote reminded me of what I want my life to be about- loving others. Sometimes, loving others doesn't feel successful and productive, but it does make your life so much more full.
"Even the best of human love is filled with self-seeking. To work to increase our love for God and for our fellow man (and the two must go hand in hand), this is a lifetime job. We are never going to be finished.
Love and ever more love is the only solution to every problem that comes up. If we love each other enough, we will bear each other's faults and burdens. If we love enough, we are going to light that fire in the hearts of others. And it is love that will burn out the sins and hatreds that sadden us. It is love that will make us want to do great things for each other. No sacrifice and no suffering will then seem too much.
Yes, I see only too clearly how bad people are. I wish I did not see it so. It is my own sins that give me such clarity. If I did not bear the scars of so many sins to dim my sight and dull my capacity for love and joy, then I would see Christ more clearly in you all.
I cannot worry much about your sins and miseries when I have so many of my own. I can only love you all, poor fellow travelers, fellow sufferers. I do not want to add one least straw to the burden you already carry. My prayer from day to day is that God will so enlarge my heart that I will see you all, and live with you all, in His love."
This is who I want to be: a lover of people and of the Lord. I can only do this when I receive the constant affirmations of love from the Lord and people. Good night!
