Emma, love and nature

"As I sit heare alone, me now being an old white haired lady, having much time to think and look back at my life and all the challenges that took place; there is so much to tell, that if something becomes a jumble, you will excuse me, for I was not educated enough to form perfect sentences, nor is my English perfect.

You, my children, grand-children and great-grandchildren, who I know all love me for what I am, will read this and perhaps sort it out in better form."

-- Memoires of Emma Osis Libert Anderson

These words were the beginning of my grandmother's own out of a collection of her memories written out for her family and friends. She was known as just Emma to all, in fact that is what she wanted on her grave marker, "Just Emma", as she really didn't have a personal identity other than that. Living over 93 years and out living two husbands; one the only "love of her life" and the other a loving companion.

G-d has been nudging me along to meditate on her life and nature and to articulate it for quite some time. That nudge also comes out of a greater growing gnawing to reconcile what i/we believe in the body of Christ with who He is and how we really are to be. As i understand it, the best way to know what our true beliefs are is in observing our natures; who we are and what we do. Our innate or instinctive responses reflect our strongest beliefs.

What struck me the most is ....

G-d tells us that we can learn a lot about a person through thoughtful consideration of the nature of a person or thing, and, of what comes out of them (actions, fruit). I find this knowledge grievous as the more i know exposes much of the garbage in my own life and the incongruencies in what i present (say) and what i do or have become.

The fundamental things we know of G-d presented in scripture speak of His nature. It is hard to describe the undescribable; the eternal who dwells apart yet whose Spirit dwells within His Children. We all can know Him by what He has left us; we know Him by His great love and power towards us who draw near to Him. The closer we draw near the more of Him we are able to see.

"Since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities -- His eternal power and divine nature -- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made"

God has also created man in His image, and as His creation we are made and called to reflect that image.

G-d is Spirit and He is love. The greatest quality we are called to aspire towards is love. Love seeks the greater good of another. Great love denies itself even unto death for the sake of another. Jesus tells us plainly that the way we are known by others to be His is our love for one another. The two greatest commandments concern love for God and those next to us; our neighbours.

My grandmother, as imperfect as she perceived herself, consistently reflected the characteristics of love that we find outlined in
Some questions to flesh out:

• Am I loving and caring toward anyone irrespectively not just nonbelievers?


• Am I living out the relationship I say I have with Christ?


• What are the discrepancies between what I say I believe and how I live my life?


• How do i see my actions causing nonbelievers, seekers to doubt the existence of God?


• Has Christianity become so politically {institutionally, programatically} defined that true faith and the person of Jesus Christ is obscured in the minds of many?


• Is it possible that Christians are conducting themselves in such a way that the spiritually seeking are looking anywhere but to Christ?"
  

Atheists do not believe G-d exists because they do not see evidence for Him. They in turn believe we are deluded because of what they don't see in us. In spite of the over exposure of Christian images, words, institutions and programs in the world; these things are not relevant in of themselves as they appear hypocritical and unauthentic; appearing to contradict what is generally known about Jesus. We are often seen as judgemental and hypocritical in and outside of the church for sundry reasons, but i believe the chief reason is dure to the lack of love demonstrated.

There are no special classes of people and we shouldn't identify anyone; gays, liars, gluttons, atheists in special classes. Like all humans, we sin to which Jesus provides the solution.

And when the Church serves like Jesus, it can make a tremendous impact