May Threads:: Right Relationship

Seeking meaning through all that connects and sustains us

“Imagine eternity from God’s point of view, “ Samuel Wells risked forming these words as a response to harsh statement made about the impossibility of love by someone in an online forum. Without any interruption, he continues to speak of this possibility, saying through his computer’s camera,

“Imagine God having all that love pent up like you have right now. But the difference is, God’s got that love all pent up potentially forever. God’s like you. God’s thinking, ‘Where’s my love to go?’ So God creates the universe. But God’s got still more love to give. So God creates life, and makes humanity, and calls a special people. But that’s still not enough. God’s got yet more love to give. So God comes among us as a tiny baby. God’s question ‘Where is my love to go?’ is perhaps the most important one of all time… So when you ask yourself, ‘Where’s my love to go?’ you’re getting an insight into the very heart of God.”

Photo by Noorulabdeen Ahmad on Unsplash

He reflects on the whole story in the Christian Century where I went searching for something to define what I remember being central to my first studies of the Bible. This idea of right relationship where how we relate to the people around us, the strangers we meet, the earth we trod and every other living thing impacts and illustrates our relationship with God.

I am probably remembering it wrong and maybe there’s something more to love’s power than even Wells describes. Last year,

Diana Butler Bass

pointedly reminded us that love isn’t quite enough for the kind of transformation we hope is (still) coming. It’s easy to get stuck there worrying about the big transformation rather than turning our attention to the tiny movements of grace in all of our relationships.

In these last few days of the Easter season, I invite you to turn your attention to pay attention to your relationships. Choose one or two. Maybe someone you work with or someone with whom you share a home. Or perhaps a pet or friendly tree outside your window. It doesn’t have to be a relationship with a living thing that will talk back to you but something with which you have constant contact, someone who is a part of your daily life. Choose one or two of these connections to pay greater attention to in this month and notice how love is made known to you through these connections. Notice, too, what you offer to this relationship and how you express your concern for this connection. Listen for any and all responses in this relationship, and from God who continues to ask us all in this age of loneliness, “Where is my love to go?”

As you feel so moved, please share the relationships you’re exploring in this month of May and what you already know about love is in this relationship.

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As you enter into this May practice, here are some questions for reflection and prayer.

• How do you experience love’s power?

• When do you most notice God’s connection to your relationship?

• Where do you find love is unable to go for you?

• What more do you need to experience love in all your relationships?

Love is a tricky word and too often makes people think of romantic love. As you try to wiggle around this notion, you might find some of these books helpful to reframing your relationships. Or if your reading stack is a little too tall, you might listen to this wisdom on YouTube.

If you are interested in spiritual direction and are interested in a first conversation with me, please reach out or go ahead and book an appointment here. I am currently welcoming new directees and would be delighted to explore the holy threads of this life with you.