Have you ever seen an infant nursing at the mother's breast? I'm talking about a tiny infant ... the infant who is totally dependent upon others for safety and sustenance. The hungry infant will latch on, and as the milk is flowing into the body he will often have his eyes open. The infant is fixated upon the mother...often clinging to one of her fingers (and most mothers will gaze back with love and awe). After a while the infant will often doze off, totally unaware of the potential provided by the physical and spiritual food he is consuming. In addition to the nourishment which will sustain life and limb, there is a bond forming that can't be contained or expressed in words. That bond is a critical component of the development of health and wholeness.
The dependent infant will die if somebody does not provide protection and nourishment. And that infant will not thrive without the connection to touch and comfort... to the expression of something much more intangible and elusive than food or shelter.
As we age, we develop the capacity to provide for ourselves. Our bodies become more self sufficient...we can cover ourselves when cold...find a safe place, even if we are huddled in a tiny hiding place. Then our minds develop...and we find all sorts of ways to satisfy our need for affection, esteem and some measure of power over our situations.
However.... we never have the ability to provide our own spiritual strength...or to assure our own spiritual integrity. We are totally dependent upon Christ...the center of our being...for any life that is full, whole, and lasting.
Think of yourself as one who is totally dependent upon the Lord for what you truly need TODAY and every day.... for spiritual nourishment...for your focus....for your understanding that you are precious...safe...loved beyond measure.
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Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful
3 comments:
Beautiful. If men could only really understand. I wonder if a father has ever really observed and felt the nuturing as he watched his wife nurse their baby?
Maybe then there would be less war.
I could be wrong.... but I often think the ego obstructs some observers of the nursing activity from seeing it as a statement of divine love and purpose.... All sorts of emotions and movements that are outward responses to intimacy may occur... and if we focus solely on the outward it may even eclipse the oh so profound miracle. This miracle doesn't force itself upon the observer... it waits patiently for an openness to what is happening.
I loved nursing my babies; it was the most difficult thing I ever had to learn to do but the most rewarding! The bond is incredible! Interestingly enough, I have been working with a pregnant mother who is preparing for her baptism and we talked about her continued need for "nutrition" after she is baptized, just like her baby will need constant care and attention- so too will her life in Christ. The good news is Christ is with us always (though as you often remind me, paying attention to that is often the key!)
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