seems ludicrous.

That flickering hope that

hungry kids

pimped children

terrified men and women

broken and desperate

might have a reason 

to keep going

to endure

is enough.

Because at any time

we - the privileged ones -

can feel desperate

unloved

consumed by dark-heartedness

of our own 

and others devises.

Love wins.

Love wins.

Love wins.

Let that sink in.

And move you

towards action.

Love wins.

now this has nothing to do with a controversial book...well okay. maybe it does.

but not the book penned recently.

the one penned over years by a raggamuffin band of believers

that love wins.

there is so much that i do not understand

but i am beginning to understand

that God is love

and justice

and mercy

and hope.

That every good & perfect thing comes from him

like the goofy joy of a baby so happy that he kicks his feet and giggles

and the sunrise after a long and frightening night

and a hand to hold

and the memory of a love long lost

but so very good and sweet

and my grandmother's vegetable soup and Reubens

and a tiny girl no longer hungry

nor given to shame.

The heart of an old curmudgeon 

that welcomes a new friend

or forgiveness asked

and received

or spring

without violence

and saturated in new freedoms

on wobbly legs...

these speak to me

whisper a reminder 

in the dark night of my soul -

love wins.

Across the desert

through the trees

the snapping of jaws

and slithering of snakes

the winds of worry

gales of grief

and vast emptiness

of faith flung

into the salt flats -

the whisper makes its way

and finds us;

Love wins.

We cannot define it

corrupt it

box it

cage it

kill it

hang it on a cross

or drown it.

Ultimately

life prevails

and

Love wins.

So what do we do with this information?

Wait for another

to do the work

clean up our mess

carry our broken enemies

shield us from the uncomfortable truth

and bury the dead?

What do we do with 

Love wins?

today?

this moment?

 Father, 

   Reveal who you are. 

   Set the world right. 

Luke 11: 2 (the message)

Lost dogs & Breathe Deep, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg1TSJ4JiH8