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dreamprayact

~ Reflections of a preacher, poet, and contemplative activist

dreamprayact

Tag Archives: fulfillment

Love is my name

23 Friday Mar 2012

Posted by mark lloyd richardson in Reflections

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

bearer of God's love, fulfillment, God is love, image of God, joy, meaning, mystery of God, peace, sanctuary, Thomas Merton, true identity, true self

“Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness.’” ~ Genesis 1:26

20th Century mystic, Thomas Merton, once wrote: “To say that I am made in the image of God is to say that love is the reason for my existence, for God is love. Love is my true identity. Selflessness is my true self. Love is my true character. Love is my name. If, therefore, I do anything or think anything or say anything or know anything that is not purely for the love of God, it cannot give me peace, or rest, or fulfillment, or joy. To find love I must enter into the sanctuary where it is hidden, which is the mystery of God” (Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation, 60-61).

It is possible to fill our days with lots of new experiences, and imagine that in the midst of all our experiencing we are being fulfilled.

It is possible to fill our homes with belongings designed to satisfy our physical comforts, and suppose that these belongings will deliver the happiness promised.

It is possible to fill our calendars with a wide-ranging array of activities, and pretend that the sheer weight of busyness gives our lives meaning.

What if the reason for our existence is to more fully embrace the image of God within us?

What if our real life task is to live into our true identity as bearers of God’s love?

How would that perceptual shift alter the shape of your life?

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