Coming to God just like a child

Michael Sullivan / Lynchburg News & Advance
Published: March 3, 2008

As a child, there was nothing like the feeling of complete exhaustion after a hard day of play. I'm sure you remember it as well: the sore legs, the aching ankles, the feeling of hunger in the belly, and that strange shortness of breath from running and playing so hard that the diaphragm itself was exhausted. The whole body ached and groaned for rest. What a feeling!

But I also remember what often came next. In my exhaustion, just after scrubbing the dirt from my body in the bath, I would put on my pajamas and rest in my mother's arms on the couch, completely at peace. I recall this memory with great detail: the boniness of her shoulder, her red woolen sweater complete with monogram that she wore so often, the smell of her perfume, and of course, the absolute embrace of loving arms wrapped around me. It was if my mother was saying, "nothing can hurt you, nothing can tire you, just rest here and everything will be all right." I suppose she was saying those incredible things for I still hear them in my soul each day.

What would our lives look like if we could feel the loving arms of God wrapped tightly around us, saying those same things- That would we do in our boardrooms, offices, classrooms and homes- Would our attitude be more loving, less judgmental, more forgiving- Would we be able to translate the love of our Creator into a model for life - something so wonderfully graceful and freely given to the tired, restless souls of our world-

Truth is, the arms of God are present to us in all the parents, friends and companions we are given along the way. If our parents didn't or couldn't hold us and care for us, there have been other parents on the journey, possibly friends who know us so well that they know we are in pain before we speak of it. All the parents of life come to hold us, give us a hug and assure us that life is going to be great again, that the soreness of our tired lives will eventually fade away so that rest and peace can visit again.

Taking the time to share in the companionships of life is essential to knowing the love of God. Falling into the arms of another, sharing who we are and letting that person see us completely reveals the holiness of life. Ultimately, these relationships are the central means of God's grace and mercy in our lives. It is only through them that we can experience the true love of God. I cannot love on my own. You cannot love on your own. It takes each other. It takes accepting the other as fully human, fully loved, fully graced in this world God so loves.

And so when we let go of all the walls that separate us, walls of judgment, oppression, alienation and segregation, God stands there waiting to embrace. And through love and mercy, we fall into the incarnate arms of God as we feel his son's and daughter's loving arms wrapped around us each day.

So next time you are in the arms of another, listen to your soul. Let the child of God you were created to be fall into the arms of your loving Creator. Let God love you. And hear God saying loudly and clearly, "nothing can hurt you, nothing can tire you, just rest here and everything will be all right."