There is Power in Love
“I forgive you."
“My family forgives you. We would like you to take this opportunity to repent. Confess. Give your life to one that matters the most- Christ.”
“We have no room for hate. We need to forgive.”
“We are a family that love built. There is no room for hate and we need to forgive.”
“But as we say in our Bible Study, we enjoyed you. May God have mercy on your soul.”
There was power and love in the words spoken by the families of those slain in Charleston this week.
And there is Power in Love because Love overcame Evil on the cross!
“Father forgive them , for they know not what they do.”
We were given an example of Love through Christ. Love is sacrifice. Love is forgiveness. Love is God. And God is Light in darkness. He is PRESENT. Even in the midst of pain and grief. His Light shines through.
I woke up Saturday morning feeling anxious, overwhelmed , and sad. Partly because it’s been a year of extended stress; not the crisis state of the prior two years, but ongoing day in and day out pressure. And as much as I try to focus on perspective and gratitude, I have struggled with anxiety and worry. It’s a time of transition- transition for my kids, my role as a mother, my contribution to the work world, finances, and on and on. And partly, because I was saddened by the events of the week.
I started work at 16 and have worked most of the time since then. 31 years later, I am especially aware of the importance of my choices, both the impact on me and the value to others as well as the expression of faith. And so, I have decisions to make. Transitions resulting in a new path to travel. My oldest son said to me not long ago. You still treat me as your addict son. You need to treat me as your son in recovery from addiction. There is a difference. Again, more transition. And as I watch my other son work through different challenges, I find I suffer from a parent form of PTSD. I think likely a struggle that many parents who have had kids suffering from addiction or other issues can relate to. I hear or even imagine a problem and react as if our lives hung in the balance. I expect the worst sometimes not a miracle- not mercy. And now I am sending the fourth and final child into the world. What challenges will she endure as she moves on to college- the next phase of her life. How do I move from caretaker to encourager? How do I not worry?
More transition. And I see transition in this world- it scares me. I see hatred, immorality masked as freedom, and the groanings of a desperate people reaching for prestige, material things, drugs, and self-gratification in order to ease their personal pain. My hope certainly lies in my eternal home. But, I need hope in the present reality. I am not afraid to die. I am confident that my home awaits. But, I am still afraid of what the next day may bring at times, the next phone call. And yet, I know fear is not of the Lord. I think back to the steps we focus on in Alanon. Our lives have become unmanageable- a recognition that we have very little control on what happens in our lives. Children develop addictions. Hate drives violence. Death comes unexpectedly. But, there is a power greater than ourselves who can restore us. Someone who we can turn to especially when darkness comes- God. He has a plan for our lives. We can focus on the Truth- His Truth. We can focus on the Love- His Love. We can stand on the promise that he has overcome evil. Darkness does not win. He is our Light.
The challenge is that sometimes the light is so faint that it seems the darkness may be winning. It’s like the twinkling of a faint star in the dark sky barely visible. And yet, if you focus you will see it. As I woke up Saturday feeling the anxiety, I strained to see the light. I reached for the promise of Christ. In reading my devotion, I was reminded that I must search for Christ. I must acknowledge how I am feeling and pray for guidance and strength. And, I prayed. I sat on my deck taking in the beauty he surrounds us with and I listened to the words of the families of Charleston. They were walking through valley of death , hatred, and loss. And yet, they loved. Those who don’t know the gospel are awestruck. How could they be so forgiving? And even, those of us who do know the gospel are still awestruck. What a beautiful Christ-like example. Miraculous really… Just as Christ asked the Father to forgive those who were a part of his death and who ridiculed him even in his final, painful hours, these families were doing the same thing for the man that took their loved ones from this home. The depth of their emotions was evident and yet their words were an expression of Love through their forgiveness. The power to express Love in such a way could only be God’s love shown through his children. In Charleston, where Love was there, Hatred (Evil) did not win. Where Forgiveness was there, divisiveness did not win. Unity prevailed. God was bold through the lives of those left behind and he leaves this nation awestruck. Light in the darkness.
So, today, I feel stronger. I have been reminded what Love came to do on this earth. Love is present no matter how chaotic or devastating life can be. Love transforms and we should be awestruck. Love is power and as children of God we have access to that Power. So, our challenge today is how can we be bold through the love of Christ? How can we show others grace, forgiveness, mercy? I encourage you to join me and look for ways this week to reach out to others who may be different, who may have hurt us, or who need to be reminded that Light can be found even in the darkness.
Yes, thank you for the reminder. We are a house built by LOVE- there is no room for hatred. There is no need for fear. Light has overcome the Darkness. God is PRESENT.
Just as those gathered to worship and learn about the God they loved last Wednesday, I take with me the lessons and beauty of their forgiveness. And, I run today in the love and grace expressed in the wake of this tragedy.
