Meatloaf

Collectively and individually you are loved with an everlasting love that delights in each faithful step taken. God yearns to draw you close so that wounds may be healed, emptiness filled, and hope strengthened. Do not turn away in pride, fear or guilt from the One who seeks only the best for you and your loved ones. Come before your Eternal Creator with open minds and hearts and discover the blessings of the gospel anew. Be vulnerable to Divine grace.”—Doctrine and Covenants 163:10a,

A couple of people have asked me when I was going to write something about Simon again. Apparently the post in relation to “Joy” struck a bit of a chord with some people!

Simon really likes meatloaf. Last Sunday evening, the Sunday dinner crowd at our home was graced with meatloaf. Whether or not you like it, folks around our table were heard to say “I was really hoping you would have meatloaf tonight” and “Wow, my favourite meal and my favourite singer!” And Simon? Well he sat patiently on the floor watching and hoping that there may be a spare piece hit the floor, or maybe some“leftovers” to grace his kibble.

We all “hope” don’t we? What are some of the things that we hope for? Good food; good friends; good times? Gracious hospitality; gracious generosity; God’s generous grace? Hope for blessings; hope for a good book in front of a warm fire; hope for peace? Hope for wholeness and healing; hope for strength; hope that our lives will be fulfilling? What is it that you hope for?

I recently ran across this video from the “We Share”series that was shown at the 2010 Community of Christ World Conference. Watching it again I was graced by its captivating simplicity and beauty. The video is called “Vulnerable to Hope” and you can find it here

For me, I hope for all those things I have listed and I hope for all the things I found in the video and I hope that we, our Community of Christ, can be vulnerable to hope and vulnerable to divine Grace and find our way into a certain future as we work to explore our mission and embrace the Mission Initiatives ) and follow the paths that Jesus has first trod.

Will you join in this journey? I know that God, who loves us collectively and individually, will be with us on each step.

Simon? Vulnerable to Grace and equally as vulnerable to hope, as we all are, he sat patiently (although I think I saw Steve Northey “accidentally drop” a piece of meatloaf on the floor). His reward? A hearty helping of meatloaf mixed with kibble, a full stomach and an ear rub. As we explore God’s possibilities and take our own faltering steps, just how great a reward might we find? Are you ready?

Poster is John Nichols