The Meadow of LOVE

1 John 4:17-18

By this is love perfected with us,

so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment,

because as he is so also are we in this world.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.

For fear has to do with punishment,

and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

The Scripture says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of all wisdom."

But as fear may be the beginning of the spiritual path, it is never the end.

A spiritual journey which ends in the fear of God

and God's judgment and wrath is an incomplete journey.

It is a journey which has not yet made it out of the woods

and found its way into the spacious meadow known we call love.

It is not until the path opens us to that meadow

that we can say our journey is completed.

And it is there in the meadow that the cold fear and judgment of ourselves

and the desire for fear and judgement of others melts

in the light of the knowledge of God's love for us

and for all others -- even our enemies.  

This is the completed journey of love.

And as today's lesson reminds us

"Perfect love" -- love made complete -- "casts out all fear."
Matthew 11: 18-19

For John came neither eating nor drinking,

and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 

The Son of Man came eating and drinking,

and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard,

a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

Augustine said,

"Love and do what you will."
And to that I would add,

"And don't worry a lot about what others say and think."

~Ryon Price, 2nd Thoughts