So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world
that you are my disciples.
(John 13:34-35 NLT)
 |
| The Holy Family Shrine, Nebraska |
On a hill faraway in the prairie of Nebraska, we noticed this beautiful chapel. We jumped off the interstate, turned down a country road and rambled up the hill to dedicate our dreams to God. (We just had spent the weekend at Jumping Tandem-The Retreat, you remember the place where dreams were unveiled and affirmed.)
After visiting the chapel, we noticed Jesus on our way out, or at least a sketch of His face smiling at us from a postcard. On the back was a prayer and a challenge that beautifully described what we had just experienced:
"Nothing is more practical than finding God,
than falling in love
in a quite absolute, final way.
What you are in love with,
what seizes your imagination,
will affect everything.
It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning,
what you will do with your evenings,
how you spend your weekends,
what you read, who you know,
what breaks your heart,
and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.
Fall in love,
stay in love,
and it will decide everything."
(Father Pedro Arrupe, S.J.)
What a remarkable building--you were blessed. And the message/challenge on the postcard--what a gift. Thank you for sharing this, Kel.
ReplyDeleteThe architect was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright...we saw it on the hill when we were driving in and we just felt compelled to stop on our way out of town...
DeleteWhat an inviting looking place to stop to pray. I'm going to have to ponder awhile about the message on the postcard.
ReplyDeleteI am so thankful for the prayer card...it is givng me focus in my prayer life right now...
DeleteKel, I will never forget our visit to that Chapel, the Gateway to Heaven, as one name by which it's called. How I wished we'd had more time to spend there, but I shall never forget it. This experience has made an indelible mark on my soul, because He met me there is a life-altering way. I too found that free postcard and have looked at the beautiful picture of Christ and read this message over and over again. I know He loves me. How much do I love Him? In light of everything mentioned, I have to ask myself that question, with humility and repentance.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing it with your readers. And thank you for sharing the Chapel with me, Gillian, and Kelly.......and with JESUS!
Love
Lynni
I didn't know it was called Gateway to Heaven...I need to read more about it...I was just so caught up in the moment of being there and that timely prayer!
DeleteOh yeah! You changed your posting mechanism. I love it. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI love the invitation to fall in love with God. How sensible. Just fall in love, no work, no rules, no rights or wrongs. Just fall in love and then everything will be ordered. And the implied imperative: "Keep falling in love." And God makes it easy. He has shown us the joy of fellowship when Jesus says if you have seen me you have seen the Father and then leaves us with the Holy Spirit to help us. Let's keep falling into the love of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
ReplyDeleteYes, I just want to keep falling in love with our Triune God...what a good reminder that we are His beloved!
DeleteI too will never forget that moment. It was majestic and I loved the wind blowing through the dried grasses .. it was a sensation I won't soon forget.....sort of like a "fresh wind" of desire to cling to Jesus just a little bit harder for a little bit longer. Thanks for sharing Kel!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Kelly