here is compassion;
to see and know
and love
through him
my own brokenness,
to be
set free to love
others in return...
+
here is compassion;
to accept his embrace,
to be held, and known
in the depths of my soul,
to be
set free to see
where his embrace
is needed most...
+
here is compassion;
to be still enough
to hold open
my heart
in all its woundedness,
to be
set free to offer
healing, for I can only
give what I receive...
+
here is compassion;
in the heart of God,
who sees,
knows,loves and
embraces ME
when I dare to turn
to raise my eyes
to see his face...
+
Through this poem I return to what is a familiar theme for me, and that is that in order to be effective ministers (small m intended- all of us!) of Christ we must see and know and accept the depths of love and compassion that he has for us. A conversation I had yesterday revealed to me that I have a tendency to hold that love at a distance through the simple use of the wors "we"; I use we in various contexts, though testimony I become the we of a couple or of family, when I am talking of my work I become the we of the church. In doing this I hide me, I am part of the crowd, no matter how big that crowd is!
My first draft of the poem above reflected this tendency and I had used the words you and we, reflecting upon this I have gone back and made it very personal, and in doing so it has challenged me to accept, receive, and know the love of Christ in order that I can be set free afresh. I do know this stuff, I preach it, but practicing it can be a real challenge every day! But the bottom line is I need a personal relationship with the God who loves me if I am to share the love he has for all....
God is love. When I live in love I live in God, and God in me. This is how love is made complete in me so that I will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world I am like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
I love because he first loved me.
(1 John 4: 17-19 -personalised)
