absolutely nothing can get between us...
I read these words a few weeks ago and I seem to be going back to read them over and over again.
assolutemente niente
Relationships that seemed so close and as if nothing could come between them, but one day there is a little word or action and it gets on your nerves. Slowly more things pile up and somehow a wedge has come between the two of you - and someone must take the action to remove it.
It is part of humanness, part of brokenness and the reality of my life that has had illusions and then the disillusionment that brought truth. It is part of living, I think, that we experience whatever it is that comes between lovers or friends or family, and our relationship with the Almighty. In fact whatever gets between us can be so deeply wounding that contempt and bitterness can live in the places where love and gentleness used to. Love and grace are not happy with eviction notices either!
This weekend I have wrestled with the fact that contempt and anger still live within me in ways I don't want them to. I wish they would simply vanish and gentleness and love and consistancy would be in their place! I wish that I could always be even and never hot tempered. How do I balance who I am with how passionately I want to live, to speak and share and for it all to co-habitate honourably? Sometimes it feels like the old "push-me, pull-you" story I read as a child. There were so many years spent in silence and even though I have the freedom to speak, there are times when subconsciously the old fear that no one will hear surfaces - and therefore, unaware, anger is attached. Alas it brings out arrogance and love and grace are not given space to breathe. Honouring others is missed. Unwanted pain comes between myself and others in this learning journey.
absolument rien
As I looked at this truth a friend showed me this weekend I knew it was one of those "teachable" moments" to check in and see that there are still things to be worked on in this area. (Honest friends like this are so valuable) The conversation didn't make me angry, or bitter, or reach for the defensive walls which is huge change. What it did take me to was the truth and reality of a relationship where "another" is the one who works faithfully to let nothing come between us, and this is the truth of what he does:
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing - nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable - absolutely NOTHING can get between us and God's love because of the way Jesus our Master has embraced us.
Absolutely nothing can get between us - that is a pretty safe place to be! And that is an amazingly accepting embrace that leaves no room for anything to come between us.