letting love

family.....

what does that word conjure up for you? does your imagination smile? does your heart ache for a rich love in a secure home?

what exactly IS a safe & secure home?

do we think we can protect ourselves and our loved ones from being hurt, broken, or lost?

how has any one of us loved without risking, even giving up something - or much?

are we captives to our parents' good intentions and designs? destined to appear just as they'd dreamed?

are we our own family's possession? if we haven't found our true parent(s) then do we have any chance for freedom to love unafraid someday?

are we chained or freed when we're possessed by a love greater than ourselves?
maybe, in our weakness, illusions, misunderstandings, and hope all the more likely to embrace the gift of love.

i hope so!

sometimes it seems that only in failing do i have the real chance to gain grace... to be freely accepted without conditions... to be discovered, and instead of unravelling i can find hope of being truly real.

maybe we can help each other uncover hidden goodness (of another world's shimmering imprints obviously!) and to find freedom to grow and mature in the seasons that are ahead of us.

together.

that word holds so much hope - so much power - so much suffering - so much commitment - so little of "me", "mine", and so few "never"s.

it's as if we've been asked to let go of our own inhibitions and to run away from whatever tempts us to do or think wrong.. and to hold on to that which is good. even if it's hurt and ugly. even if it's hidden under layers of bitterness, pride, and guilt. rejection haunts us all, i suppose... but let's risk it. let's beat it.

only

ever

always

in letting Love love us

can we be free

to pursue the gifts

of hope and life

that Jesus lives and breathes

intercedes

to pour out in and through us.

let's live, letting Love be

in and among us.

let's give what we've received,

and learn to let go as we inherit more than family can offer us,

more than we can take from others,

more than we ever

asked for.