January 19th - Reflection

Reading
Song of Solomon 4:1-8 (NRSV)
The bride's beauty extolled

How beautiful you are, my love,
how very beautiful!
Your eyes are doves
behind your veil.
Your hair is like a flock of goats,
moving down the slopes of Gilead.
Your teeth are like a flock of shorn ewes
that have come up from the washing,
all of which bear twins,
and not one among them is bereaved.
Your lips are like a crimson thread,
and your mouth is lovely.
Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate
behind your veil.
Your neck is like the tower of David,
built in courses;
on it hang a thousand bucklers,
all of them shields of warriors.
Your two breasts are like two fawns,
twins of a gazelle,
that feed among the lilies.
Until the day breathes
and the shadows flee,
I will hasten to the mountain of myrrh
and the hill of frankincense.
You are altogether beautiful, my love;
there is no flaw in you.
Come with me from Lebanon, my bride;
come with me from Lebanon.
Depart from the peak of Amana,
from the peak of Senir and Hermon,
from the dens of lions,
from the mountains of leopards.

Reflection
Love and adoration and praise. Passion stolen by love for another. Love that God has for us and love that we have for God...love.

Do I look upon God in this manner?

Do I see the Love that has been displayed?

Love that sent a child into the world to relate to those who needed this Love most.
Love that protected that child through childhood.
Love that called that child and led the child through the wilderness of temptation.
Love of a man that was on a mission with a purpose.
Love that called other's to walk by his side.
Love made flesh in action, teaching, healing and compassion.
Love that suffered the consequences of sin.
Love that was placed behind a stone cold tomb and left alone.
Love that victoriously spoke to the dead.
Love that walked once again with friends and followers in new life.
Love that ascended into heaven in glory with the hope and promise of eternal life and final victory.
Love that anointed with the fire of the Spirit.
Love that welcomes each day with a walk in the Kingdom.
Love that calls, enlightens, gifts and charges me and you to service and love for that very same Love and for one another....

Do I see the Love that has been displayed? ---

Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, Your Love leaves me speechless. You Love is beyond my understanding. This day may I reflect even a small portion of Your Love to those you give to me, all to Your glory and honor. ---Amen