Text: Daniel Hässler, social deacon, Thomaskirche Basel (CH)
It's quite a challenge that Paul presents to us. When I look at my everyday life, there are a few things that I do out of love. I like to plan trips for senior citizens, I like to talk to people from different cultures, I like to make home visits, I enjoy accompanying other people and getting involved in diaconal projects.
But there are also things that I do because they have to be done, but my heart is only halfway into it. For example, washing pans for my wife or taking out the garbage bag, writing applications for my clients, addressing a conflict with a volunteer or laborious clarifications with social services.
I'm sure we all feel the same way: sometimes we are fully there with our hearts and sometimes it is miles away. And the big question is how can we grow in love, how can love find space within us.
The Bible gives a clear answer here: God is "LOVE" and all who are connected to him share in his love. The foundation has long been laid. His love for us humans shines through the bond. We are gifted with his love and can then pass it on to the world.
We can see this very clearly in the image of the well: the water flows over the edge. First I allow myself to be filled with God's love, then it flows on to the people I am with. Without this constantly flowing water, we would dry out and the "nice challenge" would very quickly become "overwhelming".
Love always lives from both: from receiving and from passing on. This secret is revealed to all of us and we can make active use of it.
This all sounds very simple. However, we know from practice that the concrete implementation demands even more from us. And at this point I would like to ask you, dear blog readers: How do you do it? How and in what way do you experience God's love? Where can you receive his love and how do you manage to pass it on? (If you would like to publish an article about this, go ahead...)
Finally, I would like to tell you about a source that I use from time to time. It is “the prayer of loving attention”. The words are self-explanatory: it is about “becoming attentive to the voice of love”. A prayer that is kept very plain and simple:
At the end of the day, we pause for a few minutes and let the day flash before our inner eye. First, we look at the beautiful and valuable things, everything that we have achieved, everything that God has put into the day and given us. Then we look at everything that was difficult, everything that we failed at, everything that we failed at in love and that may leave us with a bad feeling. We do this not in an accusatory way, but also "lovingly". Just as God looks at us lovingly for 24 hours, with all the beautiful and not so beautiful things, we should do the same.
For me, this form is extremely valuable. I look at my heart and become sensitive to my life and behavior. It is precisely in "quiet, attentive observation" that I become aware of what has happened out of love and what has not. This can then lead to concrete steps, in silence with God or in concrete interactions with our brothers and sisters.
Everything you do should be done with love: as recipients, we can confidently accept this wonderful challenge. I wish everyone many valuable and positive experiences.
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