To Read on the Journey

Friday, January 30, 2009

commUNITY

It is a manifestation of the humility of God that he creates a kingdom so rich in love that he should not be our all, but that others should be precious to us as well. Even in Eden, before the Fall, while Adam walked in Paradise with his God, even then God said, "It is not good for man to be alone. "He gives to us the joy of community, of family and friends to share in the Sacred Romance.
John Elderedge
Journey of Desire

I treasure relationship. I would like to sit with everyone I know, and marvel at the way they are so wonderfully written into my life by God's mysterious hand.

I treasure relationship, but I am never fully satisfied. I am hungry for more... for more intimacy.

I wonder what relationship was like for Adam and Eve before the Fall. What was it like to not feel loneliness? What was it like to be not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually "naked and not ashamed" with each other and God.
That is the intimacy I long for in relationship.
I think this is the intimacy we all hunger for.

I know I will never be fully satisfied here on earth relationally. I am always going to be hungry for more because God designed us for more- with Him, and with each other.

Knowing this has brought freedom to the relationships I have. I no longer clutch, grasp, claw, beg, or suffocate the people I love, but instead I wait for God to unfold each relationship as He wills. And, I look forward with great anticipation to the beautiful, naked (yes, naked) relationship we will have with each other in glory.

John Elderedge says, "When we see each other in God's great kingdom we shall know each other's names, we'll hold each other's hands, and far better than that. The naked intimacy, the real knowing that we enjoy with God we shall enjoy with each other."

George MacDonald said, "I think we shall be able to pass into and through each other's very souls as we please, knowing each others thoughts and being, along with our own."


Won't that be wonderful friend! I can't wait to see how very beautiful you really are. I can't wait to hold your hand, and to know your story, to laugh and cry with you, to have all of the Jesus in you meet with all of the Jesus in me, and to embrace the fullness of God's amazing grace in your life. I know that I will grow deeper in love with Him, because of His faithfulness to you. I can't wait!

but until then i'll be missing you.

2 comments:

Linda Z said...

Hello, my other self. :)
I was up in Cambria today and I thought of you! It was beautiful.

Thanks for this post. My husband often quotes this idea from John Elderedge. It's going to be so great when we can truly see each other's hearts and know true itimacy. Can't wait!

Family Jules said...

You know that God has given us over 15 years of knowing each other, but it has "unfolded" with just the right timing.
Love you.