Journal of Sacred Work

Days 105-109 – “Do You Love Me?”

Snow on forshythia - copyright erie chapman 2013

   The earliest spring flowers are pioneers. Each April, they are the first to expose their vulnerable blossoms.

   Sometimes, like the new forsythia in the photograph, they they are seared by a winter not ready to retreat. This may burn them but it never daunts them.     

   Love is the gold we seek – enduring love. The pioneers among us take the highest risks to find it. When they succeed they are rewarded with life's richest gift. But, in the risking, they are always subject, like the forsythia, to pain.

   We all want to love and be loved. We all hope to create life's finest union.

   When two souls unite – whether for a few moments in a caregiving encounter or in a longer sacred relationship, can their love withstand winter's certain assault? Only when lovers survive storms can they know that God has crowned their union.   

   "…do you love me?" the resurrected Christ asked Peter  (John 21:15-17) When Peter replied that he did, Jesus said, simply, "feed my sheep."  Then Jesus asked him a second time and again a third. Each time Peter, with increasing irritation, protested that of course he loved Jesus.

   Why did Christ persist? Of course, Peter had denied him three times before Jesus' death on the cross.

   Why did Jesus tell Peter, "feed my sheep"?

   Herein lies your injunction. If you love God, you will Love those in need as well as those you desire.

   This is the essence of a sacred encounter. When you help with holy intention you bless yourself and the other. Sympathy means to suffer another's pain. Only Love can empower survival.

   If you think you love another ask yourself how you feel when trouble comes. If your love fades was it ever love?   

   There is no harder experience for caregivers than to love patients that spit at them, co-workers who betray them, and supervisors who punish instead of affirm.  

   Perhaps, this is why Love seems to be in hiding when, in the middle of spring, a beautiful bloom is suddenly struck by snow. Look again, the blossom is unbowed.

-Rev. Erie Chapman

Photograph: "Snow-Capped Forsythia" copyright erie chapman 2013 

 

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3 responses to “Days 105-109 – “Do You Love Me?””

  1. Deacon Dan Avatar
    Deacon Dan

    Very insightful reflection that comines spring, a familiar gospel, and love. Our big Easter candle got knocked over and is slighlty bent, but instead of getting a new one, our pastor commented that perhaps it is a fitting reminder of the “wounded” savior that Jesus is.

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  2. ~liz Wessel Avatar
    ~liz Wessel

    Thank you, Erie. “When you help with holy intention you bless yourself and the other.” I think this is the crux of it for me. I used to see myself as separate from the person who was ill, vulnerable and in need. I believe my intentions were well meaning. Yet, now the distinction has faded. We are all in the same boat. We cannot judge another without judging ourselves. We cannot forgive another without forgiving ourselves. We cannot love another without loving ourselves. A simple, yet profound truth that is difficult to live without intentional conscious attentiveness.
    How could our lives change if this spiritual truth was in our awareness daily? Could we let go of blame, resentments and offer forgiveness instead? How could I not love you?

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  3. ~liz Wessel Avatar
    ~liz Wessel

    This came my way today and I wanted to share it. 🙂
    The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
    You know how it is with an April day.
    When the sun is out and the wind is still,
    You’re one month on in the middle of May.
    But if you so much as dare to speak,
    a cloud comes over the sunlit arch,
    And wind comes off a frozen peak,
    And you’re two months back in the middle of March.
    – Robert Frost

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