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A faithful presence of love in the absences of our city.

Love Came Down

LoveCame Down

In our call to worship on Sunday we cried out to God:

“In a world ravaged by war and racism; In a city undermined by corruption, abuse, and violence; In homes tormented with apathy, anger, and frenetic pace; We cry: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? Our schedules offer testimony to our frantic search for meaning; getting ahead, getting healthy, getting religion. O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but you do not answer. Slow us down, loving God. Let us be still in your presence.”

As part of my master’s program, this semester I have begun my first of three internship experiences as a counselor. I have supervisors watching over me, professionals there to provide guidance and teaching, and a whole staff of peers and professors supporting me along the way. It is, in many ways, much different from being a professional. I’m not a professional. I’m a student. But, already, the weight of this profession has hit me, and it’s only been nine weeks.

Just as our call to worship described, homes are full of apathy, anger, and frenetic pace…our world, and even specifically our city struggles with war and racism, with corruption, abuse, and violence. As a counselor in training, I sit and listen to the heartache that so many are experiencing. It’s heavy, suffering abounds this side of heaven.

Jesus, as he hangs on the cross, comes face to face with all of this. He takes on all the sin and suffering of the world. Jesus knows darkness. He knows darkness like us, like a human does, because our God made a point to come down from heaven and be human. This is hard for me to grasp, and part of why Christianity as a theology will always blow my mind. God does not remain separate from us; he comes down and gets to know us in our mess. In his sermon on Sunday, Pastor Justin reminded us of our difficult call: can we know and still love? Despite the disappointment, despair, and death that comes with truly knowing…can we fully love?

Jesus embodies this, all the way to the cross. He knows our human hearts, our weaknesses, our brokenness…and he loves us to the point of death, even death on a cross. As we prepare our hearts during Lent we must remember this darkness, because the world is full of darkness. Our lost neighbors and friends and family members do not need to hear of a God who is only perfect, righteous, loving and “happy”, because that’s not the world that people live in, not to mention… that doesn’t paint a full picture of the God we serve. The world we live in is broken, and the point of the gospel that makes all the difference is that God entered into that suffering and sorrow and through this—He overcame it. Our God gives an answer that is pertinent to our suffering and struggles, and it’s a victorious and hopeful answer, even in the face of suffering and death.

~ Emily Leslie 

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