Mad, Sad, and Loving

Description

Often times when the storms of life appear, we find ourselves mad. Can we allow that anger to move through sadness and then settle on love? Life gives us moments when we feel mad, sad, and loving, sometimes all in the same breath. In this message, we look to Jesus, who is clearly mad when people are being hurt, who weeps over the city in sadness, and who keeps moving toward love with courage, mercy, and truth. Anger has its place. Sadness opens our eyes. Love asks us to stay connected with a softer eye while still saying what needs to be said and doing what needs to be done. From a Swedenborgian perspective, this is where mercy becomes so powerful, because “mercy is love grieving.” It is love that sees the hurt beneath the hurtful thing. It remembers that “hurt people hurt people,” then chooses discipline, fortitude, and compassion instead of revenge. So where are we in the process today? Mad, sad, loving. Keep it moving. And underneath it all, hear the quiet invitation: “Be still and know that I am God.”