My husband, bless his heart, has been removing the wallpaper in our bathroom. Finally, after living in this house for well over a decade, the tiny floral pattern got to us. He finished most of the removal stage yesterday. The space is currently pretty much completely devoid of color, save a couple of towels. We have both commented on how surprisingly stark the bathroom is at the moment. This plain little bathroom has reminded me about how there is a certain amount of illusion in our homes. We paint the walls, do some decorating, move in some rugs and some furniture, maybe get a cat or a dog. Most of us really try to do our houses up right.
However, the reality is, take away the "stuff" and most houses are really pretty simple. If we are fortunate, we have walls, a roof, floors, plumbing, and electricity. Yet rarely, as valuable as these are, do such conveniences make a home. Nor does comfort. Not even new appliances. No, only love can create a home. What is true of our houses, is true of our lives. Living in our skins, and living in our souls are not necessarily synonymous. Just like going to church and living a life of faith are not either. Love is what helps us to settle in. Love is what allows us to experience the realness of God. We can't understand God, no matter how hard we try. We simply can't. But, we can learn to live in love. I don't think God asks much more of us than that - to give our lives over to the love already in us.
God is always here. God is always. God is. God.
Wallpaper, on the other hand, is not. Although, it can be pretty stubborn.
A case of contradictories, both of them true.
There is a God. There is no God.
Where is the problem? I am quite sure that
there is a God in the sense that I am sure
my love is no illusion. I am quite sure
there is no God, in the sense that I am sure
there is nothing which resembles what
I can conceive when I say that word.
- Simone Weil (1909-1943)
God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them (1John 4:16).
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