and so are you. Henri Nowen wrote a book entitled Life of the Beloved. it is one of my annual books to read.
that is us. you and me. Followers of the Risen Christ.
we are the Beloved of God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Nouwen says that our most primal identity as believers of Jesus is we are His Beloved and we must embrace it, choose it, ahead of our feelings and trust that our convictions to Christ will match those feelings.
there is that word again. TRUST.
trust that my life is not on this planet, but i must live here as an example of Christ.
to love. to be kind. to care for others. to expect nothing but allow the Trinity to fill me, mold me, and move me.
this is the lesson i struggle with now. right now. to expect nothing. because there are days i expect certain things.
human expectations.
and they don’t come. not the words. not the endearments. not the acts of random kindness.
it doesn’t happen. and then i let my mind go crazy. and spiral into the pit of foolishness and selfishness.
but i am the Beloved. He gave His Son for me. for me?
so i get back into the Scripture as my 2×4 plank to the back of my head. because i need smacked.
do you need smacked? just read Psalms. Proverbs.
stop thinking of yourselves and be generous. no matter what.
with your time. your talent. your treasure.
give to others as you would like to be given to. but do not expect that. because it won’t happen.
and in the end your eternal reward will be great. because Jesus says so.
brokenBread...... 