Some mornings down the beach it is cold and breezy. Everyone sensible has popped in the cafe or gone home. Shivering, I looked out to sea. A dirty grey-green, with grey and white clouds, and nothing on the horizon. Moments like that brew sad thoughts: the world seems a desolate, bleak place. Then, unbidden, come thoughts about past failings and current challenges. A dangerous question surfaces. “Does God like us?”
Years of church attendance and Bible reading have shown that God LOVES us. Those Christmas and Easter moments of birth and death shows that He must love us, otherwise why bother? I can think of a few people that I “love” because its my vocation, and that requires loving them (warts and all).
Is that all that God feels for us? Dutifully loving and forgiving, etc., etc., but all very antiseptic and distant; we probably scrape in but it’s pretty close.
Then a flight of birds came in, flying low and fast, and immediately the seascape changed. No longer dull and dutiful, but living. Birds bringing something loving and breathing- supplying a heartbeat to the day. Pardon my selfish whimsy, but it seemed God had sent them along to liven me up, and my day changed, my perspective changed, and my attitude changed. God saw me looking lonely and so sent a message. “Oi, you down there- I can see you! It’s not a bad day, look at the birds I’ve sent. Aren’t they great?”
And I knew deep inside- God loves us AND likes us (AND sighs over our whoopsies). He wants to spend time with us, to share His ideas and our experiences, just like friends do when they bump into each other. It was great (even after the birds disappeared).
We aren’t the first to feel hesitant before the Lord. Jeremiah the prophet (who spent a very “interesting” lifetime trying to help Israel despite their poor response) spoke of Eternal Love because God has chosen them, not just put up with them. Past revelation and experience give confidence: read this- “The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.’” – Jeremiah 31:3
Unfailing kindness that comes out of the Lord’s central goodness. We’re chosen, drawn to Him, and He likes us.
The Reflectionary 