intimacy, day 7

Come to Stillness:

Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.

Opening Prayer:

O God, who existed before all things, draw near to my heart today as I draw near to yours. Grant that as we are together during this time—as well as this day—I will know of your presence to the very core of my being. Let me experience the intimacy with you that I was created for. In the name of Jesus, the Word made flesh. Amen. (JLB)

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 131

Scripture for the Day: John 17:20-26

Reading for Reflection:

As I sit and hold my 10 month old son, his eyes totally fixed on mine, indiscernible sounds of love streaming from his lips...I am amazed (again) at such love, such connection, such relationship, such intimacy—with no words required.  This is what I was made for (I feel it in the very core of my soul) by a God who shows Himself, by His very nature, to be a God of intimate relationship.    

     What a wonderfully terrifying thing to realize; that the very nature of the Creator is one of total intimacy.  The first part of John tells us that the Word was with God—toward God, facing God.  The very essence of the relationship between God and the Word is one of connection, intimacy, relationship ... face-to-face communication.  What a joy it is to know that He is wonderfully able to meet the needs of His children for connection and deep relationship. 

     It is wonderful because only One that has experienced total intimacy can give us hope for a similar state of existence for ourselves.  And it is terrifying because of the very idea of being face-to-face with One who can see into my very soul—no protection, no hiding, no masks, just the real me—completely vulnerable.  It strikes fear in my heart; fear of being seen by God— inadequate, ugly, real, afraid I won't measure up.  I don't, however, have to measure up; for God's eyes are not like mine.  He looks lovingly and longingly at His children more deeply even than I look at my own, as I stand over their beds at night with a heart bursting so with love that I can't keep my hands from their hair or my lips from their cheeks.  He looks at me and sees His Son, His Beloved, and desires that I sit facing Him through all of the seconds, hours, days, and years of my life...uttering whatever indiscernible sounds of love and affection that are at my disposal. 

     As I can readily see in my children, I was created for intimacy. I can't, however, expect to be truly connected with anyone until I am able to be truly connected with Jesus.  My capacity for intimacy (with spouse, child, or friend) comes directly from Him and His desire that I experience the joys of true connectedness (John 15:7).  And oh what a gift...those few seconds, minutes or hours when True Intimacy breaks through the isolation of our ordinary lives to grace (and I know it's grace) us with Its (His) presence ... those are moments to savor...to sit and marvel over.

                                                                                                   ~Jim Branch

                                                                                               December 1995

Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself

Song for the Week: Draw Me Close to You

Draw me close to You never let me go
I lay it all down again
To hear You say that I'm Your friend
You are my desire no one else will do
'Cause nothing else could take Your place
To feel the warmth of Your embrace
Help me find the way bring me back to You

You're all I want
You're all I've ever needed
You're all I want
Help me know You are near

Closing Prayer

Lord you are my Lover, it is you whom I desire. You flow through my body like a stream, you shine on my face like the sun. Let me be your reflection.
                                                                                                 ~St. Mechthildis