The Foreign Experience of ‘Falling in Love’

 

Paul writes - Young people have been given the ability to “…think critically about religious truth-claims… [They] are…critical consumers… [Often cynical]…they may be drawn to…the language of mystery…they may appreciate how human history testifies to the archetypical drive for religious meaning…They can see religious faith as a kind of commitment to live deeply the search for meaning in a fractured world…

But what is so utterly foreign to many is the experience of falling in love with God. Religion, for them, is an intellectual exercise rooted in the individual conscience, rather than a response to a God who holds out a hand to say, ‘let’s have an adventure!’…”

Quote from Tim P. Muldoon, Postmodern Spirituality and the Ignatian Fundamentum, in The Way, Jan. 2005 

One of a number of things that struck me in this article was the significance of the highlighted section of the quote above. Sadly, for so many of us (and I’m broadening the “us” beyond Muldoon’s primary focus on youth), the heart of Christianity – love – specifically God’s unfathomable love for us, is not at the heart of our Christian experience; love is so often not the great animator of our faith development and journey.

We struggle with questions like: “How do I experience God’s love for me?” “What does being loved by God feel like?” “What is my ongoing experience of God’s love?” “What animates me as a Jesus-follower?” “What animates me as a Pastor, for example?” “Why do I serve?”

It's pretty hard to love others when we don't know ourselves to be loved.

From my first principal and foundation (the objective of, and orientation of ones life). One writer calls it an “invitation to [life-long] imaginative play.”

Teach me to take up residence in a life of love,

Love, have the run of my house, become at home and mature in me. 

Teach me to love others so that your love may become complete in me – perfect love!

…Strengthen me in love too love.

Comments

[maggi]

thanks paul. have quoted you today

[Neale]

Oh, I don't think people haven't fallen in love with God at sometime in their lives. I will never forget the warm and wonderful feeling I had as a 14 year old after the bishop laid his hands on my head at my confirmation. I was on top of the world; my faith was unshakeable. But to continue the analogy... God is not an easy lover. At least that's how we can come to feel about God. Back to humans, why do so many people who experienced love when they were young see so emotionally crippled in their relationships when they are older. It's because, in their view, they were hurt in love, and they fear to take the risk of loving again. We don't understand - if God is so loving, why is my life so lousy? Why do bad things happen to me? So I fear to love God, for, in my adolescent way of thinking, God has let me down. God has hurt me. This is, of course, the old Problem of Evil to which I suppose there is no answer except Faith in a loving God.