Saturday, March 15, 2008

How Will they Know Series

 

Psalm 139:13 “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” 

 

Unconditional Love

 

Christina was home from seminary this week was making comments about my life.   I have noticed that my adult children desire very little critiquing from me about the way they live.   However, they are not reserved with their comments about Averette and me. 

 

 Christina said, “Dad, in some ways you live a Renaissance life.   You and Mom have had a good marriage and raised wonderful kids.   You have tried hard as a minister and I believe you had a measure of success.  You’ve been a good scholar, a good writer.  You have been an athlete in your own way and now, Dad, your paintings are surprisingly good.”  Then she commented, “You are a Renaissance man with a twist.”  I was intrigued and asked, “What is the twist?”

 

“Well,” my middle daughter said, “There are places in which you are a little red-neck.”    I said, “Excuse me, Christina?  In what ways am I red-neck?”  “Well,” she said, “We just ate at Tiny Diny.  At home when no one from the church is around, your grammar and vocabulary slip into Cronicville and you secretly read Louis L’Amour.”   I was stunned.  A Renaissance red-neck or a red-neck Renaissance was never a label I would apply to myself.  

 

People do see us in particular light but that perception may come from their own personal prejudices rather than the truth.   I had the experience of speaking to the wife of a close friend.  She asked a question about her husband, the answer of which I knew very well.   She said, “He never talks to me about those things.  Even those closest to us may not know or understand who we are.” 

 

God understands.  He created us.  He made us.  There is this beautiful line from Psalms that says, “He knitted us together in our mother’s womb.” Even before we were born God knew us.  I appreciate that I can go to God and never have to hide my sins or failures from Him.   I appreciate that He loves me more than anyone else in the world.  God’s love for me is from complete knowledge of my faults and failures as well as my potentials.  

 

Recently I did a funeral and the family talked about the person who passed away as loving unconditionally.  I must say I have been loved by a lot of people but I’ve never experienced unconditional love from any human being. There are always conditions and if I violate those conditions then I know their love will turn from love to disappointment, distrust, anger, disgust, or dismissal. 

 

It is wonderful in our lives to know that God sees us as we are and He loves us.  We have eternal possibilities with a divine relationship that in many ways is painted in unconditional love.  

 

Prayer:

Dear God, help me to trust in you for if all else fails you are all I need.  Amen.