What came next was something unlike anything I have ever known or experienced. Over 200 people had been away on what the church calls "an encounter weekend." It is open to those who are new to the faith, rededicated, newly touched. The parishioners formed a long double line down the center isle, much like the famed fire tunnel, and down came the parade of new or newly dedicated believers.
I compare it to a scene from an athletic event -- full of craziness, shouts of joy, people jumping on people's shoulders, and running in delight. Kinda reminded me of a team of 200 breaking through the canvas to come on to the field where wild fans clap and shout with all their might to welcome and encourage them in the fight ahead. The participants carried multi colored balloons and in all the alacrity, they popped them but the sounds were hardly heard above the din of the excited crowd. Imagine if every believer were greeted and celebrated in such a way as they entered the body of Christ?
After a prayer and a charge, the participants' families and friends were invited to come down and hug them. I began to tremble and cry as I watched the sea of love before me, touched down to my toes. A beautiful, big hearted Brazilian woman in a violet top whom I had never seen before grabbed me with the hug of a sumu wrestler, squeezing me with warmth that radiated into my being. My chin was embedded in her shoulder, and there was simply no going anywhere or moving at all. She didn't just hug for a few seconds and then let go...so..."just receive" (receba in Portuguese). I've prayed that over dozens of people in these days, and found myself unable to do anything else.
Once I was released, I sensed that a deep well had been opened inside me. I felt wave after wave of the love of God going deeper to a place within me that has never been touched or reached. Tears of delight flowed down my face for I don't know how long, but it seemed like an hour. Eventually, I went off to the side of the auditorium and squatted down while the service moved on.
At one point the purple blouse lady saw me and came over to hug again. Such a strong embrace! Occasionally we would pull back to lock eyes for a moment, tears streaming down our faces, give a little cheek kiss, then back to the big bear embrace. It was such a powerful wordless connection that it will be a salient moment of the trip, perhaps of a lifetime.
As I stood that night to pray for those who came with need, the hugger broke in to say a fond farewell, one last quick loving squeeze. I do not speak her language, and she does not speak mine, I never got her name, and likely will not see her again this side of heaven, but our souls had communicated in the truest sense of the word: communion. Love that holds no boundaries, no lack, no fear, no race, just tender loving-kindness in the deepest of heart connection.
A person comes on these trips desiring to be the hands and face of God to those who might need just such a touch, a loving lift to heart, body or soul. But tonight I stood in the place of the receiver. Kinda like the Grinch watching the Who's in Whoville -- the ones who knew how to love and celebrate like he only dreamed of alone in his cold snowy cave. And if Dr. Suess where here to measure, I think my heart, several sizes too small, grew wider and bigger this day, and I was able to enter into the love that is the heartbeat of the universe more fully than before.
I think there is a celebration of love at the center of all that is, and we gradually open to experience it more deeply as we journey through our lives. God is love, and as such He is the pathway, our fellow pilgrim, and the One we walk toward in open armed embrace. On such a path, He surprises us with moments where love breaks in, and we glimpse in part what we will someday fully know. At such times the shadows of all we missed or long for get zapped with radiant light and love and we learn to laugh with abandon and find joy even in the ordinary.
Thank you, Jesus, for extravagant love. And thank you, Brazilian sister in the purple tank top. I think the best name I could give you would be: Cindy Lou Who. "Yahoodoray, Yahoodoray, heart in heart and hand in hand..."
As I stood that night to pray for those who came with need, the hugger broke in to say a fond farewell, one last quick loving squeeze. I do not speak her language, and she does not speak mine, I never got her name, and likely will not see her again this side of heaven, but our souls had communicated in the truest sense of the word: communion. Love that holds no boundaries, no lack, no fear, no race, just tender loving-kindness in the deepest of heart connection.
A person comes on these trips desiring to be the hands and face of God to those who might need just such a touch, a loving lift to heart, body or soul. But tonight I stood in the place of the receiver. Kinda like the Grinch watching the Who's in Whoville -- the ones who knew how to love and celebrate like he only dreamed of alone in his cold snowy cave. And if Dr. Suess where here to measure, I think my heart, several sizes too small, grew wider and bigger this day, and I was able to enter into the love that is the heartbeat of the universe more fully than before.
I think there is a celebration of love at the center of all that is, and we gradually open to experience it more deeply as we journey through our lives. God is love, and as such He is the pathway, our fellow pilgrim, and the One we walk toward in open armed embrace. On such a path, He surprises us with moments where love breaks in, and we glimpse in part what we will someday fully know. At such times the shadows of all we missed or long for get zapped with radiant light and love and we learn to laugh with abandon and find joy even in the ordinary.
Thank you, Jesus, for extravagant love. And thank you, Brazilian sister in the purple tank top. I think the best name I could give you would be: Cindy Lou Who. "Yahoodoray, Yahoodoray, heart in heart and hand in hand..."
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35
amazing.
ReplyDelete