Tending the soil
I’m not sure how long your commute is each day. Some of us head to work, some head to drop kids off at school, some of us head to a local cafe and set up shop for awhile…no matter where your commute takes you, you will see folk a long the way. And every single person you see will have something in common: they are Unconditionally Loved.
Yep.
The guy or gal standing there holding the flagger sign where the road widening is going on: that person is unconditionally loved. The fella in the big Ford truck with the busty lady mud flaps on the back and a Marlboro dangling from his lips: unconditionally loved. The 16-year-old kid driving a beater Honda and the goofy kids with rainbow colored hair and no coats walking down the street on a 45 degree morning…unconditionally loved.
Every single person is unconditionally loved by the One who made them. There are no conditions.
Last week I wrote on building our lives on a sure foundation. I referenced the soil conditions needed in life. My deep desire today is that the conditions of your soil (your heart) are ready to receive this truth all the more – the truth that you are the beloved one. This is the foundational truth of who YOU are. Beloved child.
Here’s where most hop off or hop on the conversation: Craig – are you talking about God as the One who is Love? I appreciate that those who want to hop off have their reasons, like those that hop on feel they do too.
Allow me, if you will, to leave God-agreement/debate to the side for this note. I have no intention of trying to ‘sway your vote’ here in this note…
The purpose of bringing the matter up is simply this: The fact that you are loved IS the key foundation on which the life we most deeply desire is to be built. Said more personally: I am loved – therefore I can live out my destiny. There is no more sure foundation than knowing and receiving that truth.
Culture, from as far back as you want to research, has always offered an alternative to this truth – yet you cannot make the truth go away. Do good and you’ll earn love and admiration – false. Look good, dress good, folks will love and admire you – false. Fail and prove your unlovable status – false. Poor pedigree proves unlovable status- false. Rejected and passed over = unloved – false. Voted for this guy or that gal = loved – false.
People love that way – Unconditional Love does not.
Unconditional love is unconditional. You are unconditionally loved – same as all the folks you passed on the road!
You are loved EVEN if you’ve done something wrong, bad or whatever. You are NOT loved more even if you’ve never done anything wrong, even once, all day today. The guy whose farts smell like shipyard port-a-potty is loved just as much as the guy whose farts are allegedly odorless.
So, IF – let’s just say if… - If it is possible that unconditional love exists AND IF it’s true that you are unconditionally loved…then the world changes for you.
Great news friends! It’s true. Unconditional love is really real! I can’t “do it” and you can’t “do it” – but we have it available to us!
Unconditional love is the foundational truth that changes everything about you and the life you are destined to live.
My mother-in-law makes one fine chocolate chip cookie. I mean these fellas are really good. She makes ‘em with nuts and without nuts because some folks prefer a choice. She makes dozens a week and always has one for anyone who comes by or will be somewhere she’s headed. She doesn’t know who the recipient is – she just loves to make them and share them with whomever she meets.
Unconditional cookie love. She’d give one to a complete butthead and a known saint on the same day. She just shares, without asking your status. She loves people and she loves to share.
Unconditional love does exist. It is truer than my mother-in-law’s cookies.
I – Craig- am a beloved son. That is the truest thing about who I am. What I do with my life, in response to that, is my gift to the world. I cannot love back unconditionally but I can live on the foundational truth that I am loved.
You, friend, are a beloved child too. Telling you today is the best thing I could possibly share – a cookie to go out to the whole gang.
I have time to chat more about this when you’d like to. Shoot me a note and we’ll set up some time.
Peace to you all, beloved people ~
Craig
