Lent – Day 29: A Reflection of Love

I love the wonder of a child. On Sunday I was so happy to see our little Godson Peter at church. He is such a precious treasure. Having even a few minutes with Peter is a gift. Have you ever noticed that being with a child does something special to us? Oddly, children help us but our inhibitions aside. It seems that when we hold children, it seems that we are holding life itself. Perhaps little cuties like Peter remind us that we were children one day too. It occurs to me as I make this 40 day pilgrimage to Easter that we often forget the innocence of our childhood. Life has helping us forget that we are as precious in the eyes on God as Peter is in the eyes of his loving parents. I also think that in our earliest moments we knew better what a wonderful part of the created order we are. The quest now is to get back to knowing how beloved we are.

Take a look at this image that was taken by Peter’s Grandfather, Pat. Take a look at the sense of wonder in Peter’s eyes as he looks at his own image. There he sits in the tub totally in awe at his own reflection. I would like to think that he sees himself they way God sees him – beloved.

Henri Nouwen wrote, "But what I would like to say is that the spiritual life is a life in which you gradually learn to listen to a voice that says something else, that says, "You are the beloved and on you my favour rests." … I want you to hear that voice. It is not a very loud voice because it is an intimate voice. It comes from a very deep place. It is soft and gentle. I want you to gradually hear that voice. We both have to hear that voice and to claim for ourselves that that voice speaks the truth, our truth. It tells us who we are. That is where the spiritual life starts – by claiming the voice that calls us the beloved."

I want to claim that voice, don’t you? That is what came to mind when I saw the image above. When we look in the mirror what do we see? Do we smile with a great sense of wonder when we look into ourselves? God sees so much in us and wants for us to see how beloved we are. I want to see myself with the joy with which Peter sees himself in this picture, don’t you?