To Sing and Dance with Joy? Put down the umbrella!

Su Sorenson, a member of Resurrection, wrote a devotional that I neglected to place in our congregation’s Lenten devotional.  I truly appreciated her image of taking down our umbrellas.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Roman 8:38-39

These verses have strengthened me and carried me through tragedies, suffering, and loss.  I have been assured that whatever is happening to me, to those I love, or even to this world, God is still present.  God is still showering me and the world with His love. 

However, there are still times when I am separated from the love of God.  Those times when I build a wall around myself and don’t let God in.  Those times when I put up my umbrella and don’t allow the rain of God’s love and grace to shower me.  I might put up my umbrella when I get busy with my own “to-do list” or begin to feel self-important (how will the place run without me?)  I put up the umbrella when I am exhausted, in times of self-pity, in loneliness.  Yet, God’s love is still there. 

To live in God’s grace I need to step out from the umbrella.  I need to stand in the rain, to be washed each and every day with God’s love and power.  Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God when we take down our umbrellas.  Will you take your’s down too?  Enjoy the shower.

Dear God, continue to tug at my umbrella so I may be fully washed in your love and grace, each and every day.  Amen