By Jim Hunter

James (Jim) Hunter is a retired UMC pastor, avid hiker, author, pilgrim, and friend. Throughout Lent 2023, Jim will be writing essays to companion his new book, The Samaritan’s Friend. Join Jim on our MWF Dispersed Community Zoom call on Wednesdays at 2:00 pm Eastern in Lent for discussion and spiritual practice. Link will be in the Wisdom for the Way

“Jesus had dark brown eyes, very dark. When he was serious, you hoped he wouldn’t look at you. You knew the gaze would be too intense. You were certain that he would see through every mask and know all your secrets—every sin, every shameful act or thought. But then, when he did look at you, it wasn’t like that at all. Yes, he saw right through you and he saw all that stuff, but it wasn’t with harshness or judgment. It was kindness, hope, and possibility…you were stunned to realize that he thought you were, well, just wonderful.” (The Samaritan’s Friend, page 24)

What would your theology be in one, simple sentence? I crowd-sourced that question on Facebook a few days ago, and I got some very good responses: 

• Jesus loves me, this I know

• God is love

• Be kind to each other

• Do as Jesus instructed

• Love God and others

• The One who knows me best loves me the most

• We are never alone

• You cannot look into the eyes of anyone that God doesn’t love

Proving the effectiveness of a couple of ad campaigns, 

• He Get Us 

• #BeLikeJesus

And, I got a couple of head scratchers.

I appreciated greatly my friends sharing pieces of their hearts, and they certainly gave me some good pondering material. However, the reason behind my asking is the realization that my own foundational sentence has recently changed.

For several years, “Love God and love others,” was bedrock for me. Now it’s, “I am loved.” I believe our loving God and loving others rests on this. Our ability to love is a sharing of the love we have received. We love because we are loved.

That may sound sweet and simple, but I actually find it very hard to take in. Like a lot of folks I find it relatively easy to believe God loves others—everybody. But in my doubting heart, my membership in the club called “everybody” is occasionally in question. 

I could give a lot of reasons for feeling this way. Some I can talk myself out of, others are more sticky. For now, let’s just say it’s quite a list.

This is why I have always had trouble with the concept of loving neighbors like I love myself. A lot of days, that’s not a very high bar. 

But, what if Christ actually does think I’m wonderful? A miracle? A bearer of a divine spark? Well, that would completely change everything, wouldn’t it? It certainly takes loving others to a whole new level.

So, breathe it in for a few seconds, you wonderful, miraculous, divine spark carrying, you. Seriously, breathe in “I am loved,” breathe out, “I love.” 

That’s the  breath of life. Everything grows from there.

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