Jesus, Not Jesús: Finding The Divine In The Space Between Us.
  • Be Kind
  • About this blog
  • About the author
  • Contact
  • Be Kind
  • About this blog
  • About the author
  • Contact

Lent: Day thirty-five

3/20/2018

0 Comments

 
My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!

                                 ~ 1 John 4:11-12

​On Friday, March 16, CBS This Morning aired a segment that showed a woman, Hannah Frenchick from West Virginia meeting a baby elephant. Not the kind of news we are getting accustomed to receiving on television these days, but newsworthy for those of us who are struggling with Lent. 
 
Since I was at the gym and the TV was muted I am not sure what the team was reporting, but the caption below the report said something to in the ballpark of “baby elephant shares his love.”
​In the segment a woman is sitting on the ground prepared to pet a baby elephant who approaches her like a cat or dog might do – nudging his head into her chest as a show affection. It seems the strength of the elephant was too much for the woman as she is knocked over into the muddy ground.   Where most would be afraid, Ms. Frenchick erupts into a fit of laughter.  This seems to trigger more joy in the elephant who wants more hugs and cuddles.
 
When she begins to show her own affection towards the animal, the baby elephant seems to slip in the mud and falls on the woman’s lap.  However, I like to think it was purposeful. Something one might see when a baby runs and jumps onto her parent’s lap.  This of course causes more laughter, which triggers more joyous affection.
 
It also triggered something in all of us walking laboriously on our treadmills. Laughter and smiles – the universal symbols of human joy.  As I looked down the line of people, all eyes were focused on this one television set. The man next to me laughed out loud.
Picture
Watch the video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-Kmn24RxWI
Looking at the words on the close captioning it seems one of the newscasters reported, “Boy, does that look messy.” And it was. 
 
Love is messy. God proves that to us in so many ways by coming to us and loving us in our messiness. And does so with great exuberance and joy.  As I watched the segment I wasn’t sure which one, the elephant or the woman, would best represent God.

On one hand, God is the elephant whose love knocks us over and causes us to react with joyous laughter. On the other hand, God is the woman who welcomes the baby into her lap and embraces us with such surprising joy. Either way, love abounds in ways that seem counter to who we try to be as guarded or overly protective humans. 
 
Perhaps you can take some time out of your day and think of a way that you can greet a person in your life with such welcoming love. And then show that love to that person. Drop your defense mechanisms and let down your guard to allow love in - mentally, physically or spiritually. 
 
I believe that it’s in such actions that we are not only able to receive God’s love but to also give it. Who knows, you might surprise someone to react as we all did at the gym or the way God does when we come jumping into love. That is to say, with awe and joy.

Prayer:  Dear God, thank you for loving us in all our messiness. Help me to offer that same love, with the same joy that you give to us. Amen.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Ian Macdonald

    An ex-copywriter turned punk rock pastor and peacemaker who dedicates his life to making the world a better place for all humanity. 

    "that they all might be one"  ~John 17:21


    “Prius vita quam doctrina.”
    ​~ S
    t. Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274)​
    * “Life is more important than doctrine.”


    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    February 2011
    December 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010

Be Kind

About this blog

About The Author

Contact

Copyright © 2011