"We often confuse unconditional love with unconditional approval. God loves us without conditions but does not approve of every human behavior. God doesn’t approve of betrayal, violence, hatred, suspicion, and all other expressions of evil, because they all contradict the love God wants to instill in the human heart. Evil is the absence of God’s love."
-Henri Nouwen, Bread For the Journey, 1996
3 comments:
One of the Episcopal Church's great strengths is that it helps each of us focus on our relarionship with Jesus and working on ridding ourselves of evil.
Great post Lynn. We are on the eve of our convention.
At the Sunday job, the guest speaker said that we have to stop waiting to become what God wants, and realize he wants us now, just as we are. Then he'll change what he doesn't want in us.
James: If that is true (and I don't doubt you for a minute) I think I have been seriously misfiled.
If I am what God wants, then I hope to get a letter of recommendation. At least that might validate me before those that think I have lost at least a few nuts and bolts.
I think either: God really likes me, or I got lost in the shuffle.
The alternative is that this pov is wrong, and I am still dog-paddling around the great spiritual pool.
Maybe I am just in a pessimistic mood, but honestly I think the above couple of alternatives are about all there is absent death. Knock on wood, I am still typing, so still breathing.
Or perhaps I just don't see/feel the subtle change.
I have had long periods of love/challenge with God because I so love this earth, or so I think the reason.
Maybe I am actually doing something right?
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