I have been deeply moved by a little book titled: “A Tree Full of Angels”/Seeing the Holy in the Ordinary by Macrina Wiederkehr. In the last chapter Macrina shares the content of letters shared between several of her friends. She calls this letter exchange, Finding God in My Mailbox. Macrina explains that, “Letters are the stories of our souls.
Unlike a telephone call, a letter can be picked up again and again. It can be deeply pondered. Always serve letters with a cup of tea and a footstool. Celebrate “the reading” slowly. It is irreverent to read a letter fast.”
I found the exchange of letters between Macrina and her friend Bernie quite powerful and very appropriate for this night. I would like to share the wisdom of their heartfelt words:
Bernie,
Four words from your letter stood out for me……acceptance rather than expectations. These words visited by heart, so I decided to stay with them for a while. I have had such an overwhelming desire to love others just as they are.
Acceptance is such a beautiful word. How I long for it to become flesh in my life. I am so full of expectations: expectations for myself, for others, and even at times, for God. I have our agenda all planned out, and how disappointed I allow myself to be when we don’t measure up to my expectations!
I think of the rich young man who came running up to Jesus. He was so full of zeal. He had a burning desire to be a disciple. But when he heard the cost, he walked away sad. I will never forget the look of love Jesus gave when he saw him coming. I have no doubt that when our nameless young man walked away sad, Jesus’ look of love followed him.
Acceptance rather than expectations! Jesus had an incredible ability to love people where they were. He didn’t demand that they change on the spot.
I have adopted Jesus’ look of love as a way of prayer. When I find my expectations rising to the demanding point, I simply look at the person with whom I am in conflict. I use the look of Jesus as my prayer. I whisper quietly, “And Jesus looked on him with love. And Jesus looked on her with love….
Perhaps we would all have more acceptance if we put ourselves in the corner once in a while to think and pray. I am thinking about your acceptance of me this evening. It is such a mystery of love. We think so differently about things…..and yet, you do more than tolerate my ways. You accept me with a tenderness that I find healing. Truly, it is acceptance rather than expectations that I feel…..
Perhaps my child’s wisdom was not so very foolish after all. Acceptance rather than expectations! Can we accept the acceptance of God? Or do our expectations demand that God must not be merciful?
With love, Macrina
Prayer: May I kneel at Your manger and be accepted. May I walk away from Your manger and accept others without expectation. Help me to do what I can't do on my own. Amen.
I have adopted Jesus’ look of love as a way of prayer. When I find my expectations rising to the demanding point, I simply look at the person with whom I am in conflict. I use the look of Jesus as my prayer. I whisper quietly, “And Jesus looked on him with love. And Jesus looked on her with love….
Perhaps we would all have more acceptance if we put ourselves in the corner once in a while to think and pray. I am thinking about your acceptance of me this evening. It is such a mystery of love. We think so differently about things…..and yet, you do more than tolerate my ways. You accept me with a tenderness that I find healing. Truly, it is acceptance rather than expectations that I feel…..
Perhaps my child’s wisdom was not so very foolish after all. Acceptance rather than expectations! Can we accept the acceptance of God? Or do our expectations demand that God must not be merciful?
With love, Macrina
Prayer: May I kneel at Your manger and be accepted. May I walk away from Your manger and accept others without expectation. Help me to do what I can't do on my own. Amen.
1 comment:
Breathtakingly beautiful.
May all who have ears to hear, hear.
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