Utterly IN

I am completely and utterly in God, I cannot fall out of God, I am imperishable.

Dorothee Soelle

 

Nothing can separate us from the love of God

          Paul

_______________________________

 

where does it come from?

 

that capacity to love the neighbor

who is so unlovable?

 

that ability to sit in the gutter with the addict,

or warm hands by a fire under a bridge with the homeless?

 

where does it come from?

 

that ability to bless and not curse

to let go and give

to walk the second mile

to turn the other cheek?

 

where does it come from?

 

the energy to get out of bed on a cold dark morning

and look into the day

with hope and expectation?

 

where does it come from?

 

the courage to stand against structural sins

imbedded in our culture

maintained by the fearful?

 

racism

inequity

injustice

hate

 

 

where does it come from?

 

the ability to resist the lure of abusive power

and life-denying politics

and the lust for more

the clarion call of greed which proclaims

that enough is never enough

 

how do we follow Jesus?

the lover

the suffering servant

the crucified one?

 

how do we walk down that path

in a world of rising authoritarian nationalism

and toxic individualism?

 

we cannot do it

unless

 

we know we are imperishable

 

and that no matter what

God is in us, and we are in God

Love is in us, and we are in Love

 

eternally

 

and there is nothing we

or anyone one else

can do about that