I hear You say;
I love you.
I
LOVE
YOU,
but these are
the words my heart
refuses to hear,
for it is safer to remain
untouched and dull
than to open
and risk hurt, or
worse, rejection.
I
love
you;
YOU
Your words repeat,
returning
with the sunrise,
whispered at sunset,
written in rivers and on mountain tops,
heard in bird song,
and childrens laughter;
I
love
you.
I
LOVE
YOU.
My mind responds;
this is not
well thought out
theology,
must I respond to such
an emotional
phrase as this?
and how dare I
attribute it
to the Almighty?
But You
won't give up,
and Your message
returns
as I turn the page
of a dusty tome,
I
love
you
I
LOVE
YOU...
....and then the hurt whisper…
won't you respond???
How easy it is to hold God at arms length, to declare ourselves unworthy of his attention, fearing his embrace…
How easy it is to bury ourselves in theological pursuits/ studies, forgetting the relationship that brought us there…
How easy it is to forget that God is tender hearted….
I like this interpretation of the Return of the Prodigal by Aldo Saurini, I like the movement and joy that it expresses, it seems as if father and son are caught in a dance, the city is behind and a relationship is restored. So many of the portrayals are sombre and dark, this is full of life and light, reflecting God's love…



