Mother, May I?

1 John 5: 1-6

This passage links us all together in God.  Whoever loves the parent loves the child..by this we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey God's commandments.

What are the commandments of God?  We have the 10 commandments, and then we have what Jesus said is the greatest commandments, which, really is just a summary of the ten... The greatest commandment is that you love the lord God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. --from Luke 10

So, it sounds like the way we show that we love the children of God is simply to show love for God to yourself and your neighbor, and to feel love for God fully and completely. Why is that such a hard thing to do? Why is this such a hard society to live in?

As I write this blog, I have a news feed up on my computer screen and these are the headlines:

* Metro Denver homeless numbers up in annual count
* Man in critical, boy dead after both found shot
* Robbery at knife-point caught on camera
* No guarantee civil unions bill will get a final vote
* Homeless man shot while trying to sleep

Love is not the dominant feeling present in these news stories.

Perhaps what we need to do is remember that very polite game from childhood that we used to play. The one in which we cannot do anything without asking and being granted permission from our Parent. You know, Mother May I...

Hop on one foot. Mother May I? Yes you may.  Put your hands on your head. Mother May I? Yes you may.

What if we thought about asking God, our Parent, for permission (or at least considering whether it fits the love commandment) before we do any action?  What would God give us permission to do?

Mother May I is a game of commands, and then getting permission for the command.  What, then, would God ask us to do?  Think about it. If life were one big "Mother, May I" game what would be asked of us.

Would God say: Shoot that homeless man.  Rob that store at knife point.  Deny people equal rights. Ignore the plight of the homeless.  Certainly not.  That would never be a part of God's game.

But, God might indeed say:  Help the homeless. Love those who struggle. Embrace those who are down on their luck. Love all people.   May we seek to hear those commands from God.

Mother may I help the homeless, love those who struggle, embrace those who are down on their luck love all people?

And God said, "Yes you may."

Where in your own life do you fail to obey God's commandment to love?  What makes it hard to love? Do you find it easy or difficult to ask God before you act? Why do you think the commandments of God are often considered punitive, rather than life-giving?

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