Overwhelm and stress and the painful places in life—that is the place of love. The space we get to love comes in the harshest and, even what is most easy to perceive as, the cruelest of ways. Love’s kingdom begins at the water’s edge.

Sometimes we find the gradual sloping edge, the gentle entry, only to learn in time to take it as grace when it does come so—because Love’s country is defined by steep cliffs that invite us into the mystery, a leap into the deep unknowing. We are summoned not only to experience but to become one with, to imitate, to be—love.

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” Genesis 1:1-2

As a mom this looks like a deep dive into the misbehaviors of my children, their immaturities, childishnesses, needs, oppositions, etc. The delight in this is how they in turn invite me into their wonderments, pondering, heartaches, and joys alike.

As a homeschool teacher it looks like reigning myself into a discipline of my own behavior, to not only model but to love truth in my innermost places, because believe me when I tell you that when you live with seven other people, there is no place to hide what is true. All is exposed and it is love that takes us there in kindness to our own souls. Love takes us to the edge, and invites us in…

This edge, it’s this place we decide whether we will love and embrace the truth, even at our own pain, or not. The truth a lot of days is, I’ll get smoking mad about this or that mundanity, some uncompleted chore, task, (fill in the blank), but I’ll overlook my own unfinished places with barely a glance.

Tonight though, tonight, in the rays of tenderest last light sprawled across the field I saw myriad spider webs I never could have seen without its kind of light, so mild but bright. And I remembered, light is good.

“How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.” Psalm 36:7-9

Read what’s next in this series: Deep Cuts, Part Two

This is actually an ongoing series as I learn 1 Corinthians 13, subscribe below to follow along. Start at the beginning here: Love, Part 1

Hello! I’m Raynna, and I’m glad you’re here.

That’s me with two of my six children (between the ages of 17 and 7) in the staggeringly gorgeous Pacific Northwest.

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