What does it mean to surrender myself to Love,
to ask God to take and receive my life,
and follow Christ into suffering?

On the road to discovering that
I’m learning that it’s not saying yes to every need that arises
yet it’s being prepared to make a course change
and be ready to give.

It’s not apologizing for times I haven’t lived up to an ideal, 
yet it’s recognizing when I caused hurt and making amends.

It’s noticing how relentlessly my inner critic
wants to turn Jesus into a harsh taskmaster
and allowing the Good Shepherd to walk with me 
through the deep waters
of not knowing
how to be with suffering
or what this should look like

and that it’s still okay to have fun.

It’s slowing down 
and resting my head on his chest
so I can take and receive
all the love and freedom
Christ wants to give.

He tends his flock like a shepherd:
    He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
    he gently leads those that have young.
–Isaiah 40:11

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Love Mischief for the World

“Growth in love is not an accomplishment but the receipt of a gift.” writes David G. Benner in, Surrender to Love: Discovering the Heart of Christian Spirituality “There is nothing more important in life than learning to love and be loved. Jesus elevated love as the goal of spiritual transformation. Psychoanalysts consider it the capstone of psychological growth. Giving and receiving love is at the heart of being human. It is our raison d’être.”

As you reflect on the past day or week, return to a moment when you gave or received love. Stay present there with God, and allow the felt sense of love to sink into your body.

Was there a moment when love was offered but not received? What feelings arise as you consider that? Share those feelings with God, and notice how God wants to love you now.

What love mischief are you and God doing for the world?
Let me know, and I will include it in an upcoming post.

Credits and References:
“Surrender” by Dr. Matthias Ripp. Used with permission.
“Take and Receive” by Esther Hizsa, 2023
Stained glass of Jesus, the Good Shepherd window at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Charleston, South Carolina. Attributed to the Quaker City Glass Company of Philadelphia, 1912. Cadetgray, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0&gt;, via Wikimedia Commons

© Esther Hizsa, An Everyday Pilgrim, 2023.
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without permission from Esther Hizsa is prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used provided there is a link to the original content and credit is given as follows: © Esther Hizsa, An Everyday Pilgrim 2013-2023.  http://www.estherhizsa.com