Two Paths, One Love

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, " You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken from her." Luke 10:41-42

"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us."1 John 4:11-12 "He has given us this command, whoever loves God must also love his/her brother/sister." 1 John 4:21

"Here I am, distractions aside, wanting You to change my life" - Anthony Evans

How we love God is expressed in how we love others. My expression of love to others is also my expression of love to God. These are not two different paths, but one. Intertwined, and often, unnoticed by ourselves - but intimately noticed our loved ones: 1. Jesus and 2. anyone we communicate with at any time, even strangers.

I am terribly distracted. You would not believe how many sites I have flipped through before finally completing this blog, an email, a devotional...it's crazy. And that's just this hour. That's aside from personal conversations with people, and above all, a personal conversation with God. It's not ADD, it's just being distracted by everything (there is a medical difference and caffeine is not the culprit...yes, I'm sure). It's like I'm surfing channels on my eyes - from one interesting station to another and back again. There is no focus where there is no...be right back.....

I was anticipating meeting a friend for the first time this past weekend. We had emailed for weeks and finally our "paths crossed" for a few minutes in a busy cafe. We talked for a few minutes. She is such a joy and an wonderful work of God! A couple of other friends approached and then it hit me - distraction. I introduced the two sets of friends, but then got lost in a side conversation. I never intended to ignore anyone, I just got distracted. Not for long, but for long enough. I felt horrible for being distracted and knew that I would feel uncomfortable, maybe even unwanted or undesired, if a friend's attention seemed so insincere as to lose focus. It wasn't in the intention of the moment, it was in the intimacy of the moment - at whatever degree that may be. This may seem more dramatic than it really was, but it was certainly a wake up call as to how my mind's eye wanders away from the present moment and loses so much, even with the best of intentions.

It was a wake up call. How distracted am I with Jesus? Too much. How does He really feel when I am meeting with Him and loving our conversation, but another "more important moment" catches my eye. I may introduce them to Him, but the catch comes when I get lost in a my "side conversations" - whether it is with others, myself, my computer, my phone, etc. - that I lose focus on Him. I am not asked to ever neglect any of these; I am asked to never neglect Him in any these. Pray continuously, not legalistically, Paul says. It's not about time, it's about relationship. It's not about condemnation, it's about passion. It's not a mental concept, but a spiritually controlled life.

My priority is my passion and it is reflected in my relationships. I notice the paths are one: I am distracted with my personal relationship with God AND I am distracted in how I spend time alone and with others. When I am focused on His love, I am focused on being His love to others.

There is a clear order (both in priority and charge): 1. He loves me and I receive His love (often the hardest step is to fully receive Him if we are distracted and not seeing Him as He is). 2. His love lives in me (the unfathomable and unfailing love of God Who IS love, lives inside my finite and fallen self). 3. I love others by HIS love, not mine (this is impossible if we are trying to love others with an infinite love through our finite hearts alone). 4. His love is made complete in me (the measureless love of God is made COMPLETE in ME...WHEN I love others with HIS love. It is a crucial and pivotal moment for me and everyne around me as the love of God moves from "when" to "who." Constantly.). 5. I love God, I love others - regardless of who "others" is - there is no difference or division, but my life is all one path of divine love. The results are immediate - one way or another.

Wherever I am, I am constantly in relationships with God, myself and others and I have a constant choice: to wait on Him and to walk in His love. Start at His Feet, then walk with my own. As I walk step by step, I impress the path with our scars of love.

Enjoy Him, Michelle
mlpack1@yahoo.com