When Love Reaches Down. Part II

From my morning meditation on Luke 7:36-50, posted in October 2004. Thanks to Lee for the reminder! I added to the post.

Love is reaching toward you as you read this...

As she made her way to Jesus, she attempted to silence the voice of shame as she hurried past the sting from the stares of rejection. Like walking into a crowded party that you are not invited; where you feel like you have no place, no status, and no right to be there. She felt the shame of rejection, control, and exclusion that reminded her of who she was: one who had no place at the banquet table-- unwelcomed.

As the shaming stares stabbed deeper into her humanity, she walked faster and faster and faster, as if she could out-pace the voice of hatred and the stares of shame. As she caught glimpse of Jesus among the welcomed guests, somehow she managed to stumble to her knees and to face her shame and kneel at the feet of Love. As her shame poured down warm tears like rain from the pain of her soul... her sorrow cleansed the soles of Love.

And in return, Love reached down and cleansed her heart. Love reached down and cleansed her soul. Love reached down and accepted her. Love reached down and cleansed her from her shame. As Love reached down and touched her; she knelt even lower and kissed Love’s feet.

Love reached down.
Love always reaches down.
And when Love reaches down we are never the same.

The sad part is that we sometimes doubt that Love reaches down. Many folks have been so shamed and stabbed by the rules of the religious world that they think they have slipped passed the grip of God. Unfortunately, many are tormented by their thinking and believe that they have to somehow earn or deserve God’s love. If you have to earn it or deserve it—it’s not love. You don’t have to be good enough for God—stop trying. Regardless of where you are on your journey and despite the fear of rejection and self-doubt that is sometimes imposed on folks through toxic religion and other systems, you are not beyond God’s touch. As a matter of fact, Love is reaching toward you now…