With all that we are ...

One of my favorite hymns dates all the way back to my childhood. And coming from a musical family I will always remember in that little church which would hold just over one hundred people I would be constantly asked by Mrs. Slaughter, a senior adult church participant, to sing: "I want to be ready to walk in Jerusalem just like John". (The John in that hymn was the one in Jesus' generation who pointed to Jesus as the one whom everybody was awaiting...").

I was reminded of this hymn this morning as I read Luke 12:40 -- "You also must be ready, for the Son of Man (Jesus) is coming at an unexpected hour".

For me being ready to look Jesus in the eyes includes parts of living such as these:

loving God with all that we are;
loving our neighbor with all that we are;
loving ourselves with all that we are;
loving our enemies (including those who aggravate us) with all that we are.

This is the way that Jesus summed up all the requirements of God. And, by the mercy of God, he gives us the freedom to discern what that means to all that we are in each moment.

May you and I discern well today how to love with all that we are ...