Embrace God – as the source of all Love.

“Let’s pray that we can let go of our fear of God and embrace God as the source of all love.” (Bread for the Journey)

It is strange to me really that we should fear God at all. Fear is a word that I have always found difficult when being used as an approach to God. Fear for me is really a place where I feel distant from God.

In prayer, I find that I am most loved and appreciated. I have fear about relationships, fear about people, fear about political powers, and fear about terrorist, fear about judgement, fear about rejection and more and more. For me prayer, reflection, contemplation, solitude, searching for God is all an escape from fear. I am reminded that I do not need to be afraid at all. When I am with God – fear is far from me. The challenge is to find myself increasingly more with God. I mean God is always with me…but I’m not sure I am always with God. In fact, I know that when fear grips me the most I am not with God even though God is with me. You know what I mean. We have all been at some point or another in a room or even a conversation where the other was not really with us …or dare I say we may not have really been with them.

I have been touching in on the many writings of Henri Nouwen again. Those who know me well know that I am a tremendous fan of his writings. He was in his life a great witness to love. He loved in his teaching, his writing and in his presence to his friends at L’arche (A community for severly disbles persons in Toronto that became Nowens home). I have started with his quote here today because really appreciate its approach. God is the source of all love. If for any reason today you are afraid, if you at all are insecure, lonely or depressed, if you are feeling judged or threatened, go to the God of all love. Be present with the God who rescues us all from fear.  Embrace God – as the source of all Love.