We finally got our snow here in Northern Michigan…first, a few stray hard flakes, the kind that hit hard…then overnight, more. Now just the tallest grasses are visible. As we approach our Christmas holiday here in the United States, it occurs to me, that perhaps love can act like snow… blanketing the world.

I had just had a chat with someone at the little restaurant I frequent here in Charlevoix. She is estranged from one of her sons. Hard feelings exist on both sides. Some of the reasons for separation seemed justified. But I encouraged her to keep the idea of reconciliation and love active in her thoughts and to act from that same standpoint. One never knows at what point the way will open, …but always be open to it.

Then, looking outside at our first snowfall, I could see the perfect analogy for the way love works sometimes. If love can come in a steady, constant flow (which is exactly how God’s love works), we can see our world, our life, blanketed with that same love (like fresh snow on the lawn). Both humanly and spiritually –there need be no separation, we can see the love and protection of God’s love active in our own lives.

I like that.

So any situation we face, individually and collectively, we can apply this idea. Even hard-hearted conflicts and violent terrorist acts can be covered by God’s love. THAT should be our first thought when we are hit by bad news, not fear, but that God’s love covers all like a fresh new-fallen snow.

Years ago, my husband and I were estranged, separated. It was a very difficult time…but one of great growth too. There was a lot of prayer, and the support of Christian Science practitioners too.

It was when, one day, I realized that I loved my husband, as a fact, as a truth about me (like 2+2=4), …that healing and reconciliation began. No matter what behavior or reaction I was seeing, I KNEW, it didn’t alter that fact. My love for him was a fact. That freed me to respond according to that fact and be my best self as well. This led to great healing in our marriage.

If we knew that the love we have for the world were similarly, a fact: A truth about us, we could see that same love blanketing the world. This same blanketing love covers our ‘enemies’ –whom we are charged with loving by Christ Jesus. The same love inspires the Christly direction to “forgive 70 times 7”, –forgiving so thoroughly that there is nothing left to forgive because the love is so complete.

Complete love! Now that’s a Christmas concept worth thinking about. A love so complete, it must be God.

GOD is LOVE. MERRY Christmas to you, and the wide-world too.

 

Copyright held by Alexis Wittman