Leaning In

For many years I have had a tattered reproduction of this painting of "The Prodigal Son" by Rembrandt stuck on my bedside table.  It is often the last image that I see as I am falling asleep and the first to welcome me each morning.  The father's incredible love for his son is a great and constant comfort for me.  I am also inspired to have that unwavering love for each of my children and those people in my life.

The prodigal son made many foolish choices.  He took his inheritance and squandered it, only returning home  when he was almost starving and at the end of himself.  Even his motivation for returning home was not because of his love for his father, but because he had no other options for living.  His father welcomed him and took him back because he loved his son, regardless of his choices and motivations for returning.  God is unwavering in His constant care for us, welcoming us back always.  He loves us as we are.  It is not our doings or our specialness that earns His love.  We are loved for our very unadorned selves;  our ordinary and often feeling incomplete beings.

In the Christian calendar we are now in the middle of the season of Lent, as we walk with Jesus up the long and tedious hill to Jerusalem where he will ultimately be misunderstood, crucified, and later rise again to life in us.  I have been holding the idea of leaning into God in this time of Lent.

We are all welcome, like this son, to lean into God's deep and all encompassing love, regardless of anything we have done or not done.  Each of us is completely specially created and treasured by Him.  Our belonging is in Him.  May this love that He has for us in little bits, imperfect as they are, radiate from us to all those around us.  We are each of us the physical arms of God for those around us.  Thanks to all those who have given me earthly glimmers of this love in these days and beyond.  For the dark chocolates shared, the hugs, messages, understanding hearts and smiles and mostly the gifts of simply being on this journey together.  Thanks for allowing me to lean in these lenten days.