July 8: Nothing can separate us from the love of God

Dear People of Christ Church,
In the Daily Office this morning, we had one of my favorite passages from Romans:

If God is for us, who is against us?. . . For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8: 31, 38-39)

As I read it, though, it seemed so abstract—beautiful, but abstract. I do not, on a daily basis, tend to think about angels and rulers (occasional angry thoughts about the present administration notwithstanding)—but I do get wrapped up in the task at hand, at wondering how it will all get done, the phone calls completed and the bills paid, and that one annoying person who gets under my skin is still bothering me, and wondering why Isaiah finds it so amusing to empty out the salt shaker on the rug. And also wondering if I am a bad mother for allowing him to do so, being grateful that at least he is not trying to eat the computer mouse or climb off the porch, and is also being quiet.

So I thought about a more everyday version of it, with apologies to St Paul.
If God is for us, who is against us?. . . For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor stress, nor dirty dishes, nor humid weather, nor senseless tragedy, nor traditionalist bishops, nor poverty, nor wealth, nor grouchy children, nor anything else in all creation can separate us from the love of God.

What would be on your list? What are those ordinary sins and mundane problems that distract you from the love of God? What would it be like to live every moment with a complete awareness of how God’s love encircles you at every turn, how God’s forgiveness follows you, as Psalm 139 says, “presses upon you behind and before?” How can you give those things that worry you to God, to entrust to God’s care those things that sidetrack you from that love?

Take a second right now to enjoy God’s all-abiding delight in you.
Amen, Alleluia!

Blessings,
Sara+