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Saturday 10 March 2018

"Eternal LIfe... Joy."

I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more  closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.


1 John 1:1-4
1We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— 3we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.


1) "...what was... we have heard... seen... looked at and touched;" "...concerning the word of life;" "...we have seen... testify... declare;" "...eternal life;" "...revealed to us;" "...declare to you what we have seen and heard;" "...We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete;" "...so that our joy may be complete;" "...concerning the word of life;" "...the eternal life that was with the Father;" "...so that you may also have fellowship with us;" "...our fellowship is with the Father and... JC;" "...so that our joy may be complete;"


2) Quite emphatic that the author has witnessed "the eternal life that was with the Father" first hand. And the author writes, so their "joy may be complete" by sharing fellowship between the Father, Jesus Christ and the readers of the text, consequently sharing "the eternal life that was with the Father." How much of what we do here brings us great joy?  eternal joy? the joy of eternal life? How does God continue to reveal the eternal life to us? And let me be clear, I don't mean life after death, I mean the life that extends in connectedness in every direction: connected to the earth, the sky, the beginning and the end, to each created being... When have we experienced that kind of connection? And old friend messaged me last night on Facebook.  An old girlfriend actually, from when I was maybe 12 or 13. We knew each other throughout our teens. She'd been teaching her grade one art class and came upon a children's animal magazine that had my name and old address on it. The magazine had to be over 35 years old! I'm sure we disposed of those old magazines at least a decade ago, but mom just moved a little over three years ago, so maybe they got sent to a recycle then? No idea. The funny thing was, I'd also just been thinking about my old Owl Magazines and the Mighty Mights that were featured in them. It was good to chat for a while with an old friend. Finding the magazine was the push she needed to reach out and contact me. It was a delicious moment in time, a sweet conversation of reminiscing and recalling old affections. I'm so very grateful for all the old affections, the companions on this life long journey.


3) What is the invitation in all this? To express gratitude for connections, intimate and affectionate.


"Holy One, thank you for the tiny glimpses into eternal life that is with you."


Beathprayer: "Eternal life... joy."

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