Mtr Mary Trainor

Some between your heart and mine  …*

Dear friend,

Love can be complicated, to say the least. In its early moments, bonds form easily. Words such as “forever” and “always” rush quickly from hearts to lips. 

But promises may not last forever. Something can come between hearts, perhaps invisible, perhaps unspoken, yet powerful enough to block, or even end, love. 

… There's a window that I can't see through.

Today’s Gospel tells of such a love. While not a romantic love, it nonetheless is a fervent love, a devout love. This love story is found in Luke in the form of a certain ruler who asks Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

After some exchange about how the ruler faithfully follows all the commandments, Jesus utters a conversation-stopping proposition: “There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When the ruler hears this, he is sad.

There’s a wall so high it touches the sky  …

I’ve bumped into walls between Jesus and me. Maybe you have, too. I want nothing more than a wall-free relationship with God in Christ —yet every so often there’s a window I cannot see through, or a wall that blocks the path.

It probably doesn’t need saying, but great wealth has never been one of my walls. Mine tend more in the direction of fulfilling some of the things Jesus asks of all of us. Love neighbor, love enemy, forgive endlessly.

Then there are my own walls that get in the way. Self-interest, occasional annoyance with others, sometimes big-time annoyance with others, owning my own “stuff” so my Christian relationships can move forward. And so on.

When it begins to feel like all there is is just one wall, one darkened window, after another—I remember that I have thus far survived all obstacles to faith. Of course, I have not survived by my own strength or cleverness, but plainly and simply by the grace of God. 

… Somewhere between me and you.

Mtr Mary

*Somewhere Between, written by Bonnie Owens and Merle Haggard. 1967.