I Believe In Love Even When I Can't Feel It

Dear Beloved,

This week in our worship service, we will take up the sentence from the anonymous poem above, "I believe in love, even when I can't feel it."

During our Advent book study this week, the participants discussed how one significant loss during this pandemic of social distancing is that of human touch. We all felt like we just missed those warm hugs that characterize our time in person at Wesley. In light of the absence of that visceral expression of love, can we believe that love and connection still exist with our beloved pew-mates? ABSOLUTELY!!

During that same study session, we discussed stories and experiences that gave us warm, fuzzy feelings.

When we tell our stories and listen to those of others, we can feel the love in those memories and hopes.

We FEEL love even when we can't FEEL the physical touch that sometimes accompanies loving intentions of our friends.

There are also times when we don't feel love either emotionally or physically, times when we feel desolation or animosity. Where is love then? 1 John 4:8 reminds us that "God is Love." As Christians we are taught a confident hope in the love that creates us, the love that sustains us and the love that endures even when we can't feel it. So often we demand evidence. Peter wanted to walk on the water like Jesus, Thomas wanted to feel the holes in his hands and side. We want--we need to experience love. 

We can play a role in the love that others experience. We can demonstrate love through our kindness, through our actions and reactions. We can go out of our way to ensure that others feel love in full bellies and open doors and freedom to be who they truly are. Believe in love and when you can't feel it, show it to others and you soon will feel it yourself.

Rev. Cheryl L. Meachen, Pastor
Wesley United Methodist Church
Concord NH

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