Stubborn Tenderness
No-one is exempt, no discrimination delivered or even considered. His outstretched and bloodied hands extend gently downwards towards my life and person.
My past indiscretions, my present spiritual vagaries coupled with my fears for the future are all observed - attended to by His tender love. In fact these items of life can become the very receptors, the landing places to feel grace where there was criticism and affection without conditions. Tenderness restores, and counts no debt.
His call on my life I have risked through my sinfulness, but His call proves ridiculously stubborn and simple.
It is my blindness to His outstretched offer of grace that is blocked by my avarice or pride (or a myriad of other sins). But His love is never diluted to me. His soft eyes of devotion are reddened by my willfulness, though never closed to me.
The same tender heart that formed His cosmos fearfully knitted me together. Amidst the cosmic minutae He saw me unformed in my mother’s womb. I was named and called from before time - and even had established works in advance for me to do.
He retains the same softness for me He held at the foundation of the world.
Tenderness does not expire. This has not diminished.
I may even be His enemy, but He still loves me – for that is being Godlike, the gentle ability to love those who hate you!
Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and that to You, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For You will render to a man according to His work. (Psalm 62:11-12)
Whether it is love or tenderness, they are both eternal. Reciprocity is too.
#Inspired from Brennan Manning, 'The Wisdom of Tenderness', HarperSanFrancisco 2004
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