Monday, November 24, 2003

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
(2 Corinthians 13.13 NRSV)
Dr. Richard Selzer has written a collection of essays entitled, MORTAL LESSONS. One of these essays is entitled "Encounter with God." Dr. Selzer recalls standing by the bed "where a young woman lies, her face postoperative, her mouth twisted in palsy, clownish." He had to remove a tumor from this woman's cheek. In doing so it was necessary to sever one little nerve. From that time on, her face would be contorted.

He writes," Her young husband is in the room. He stands on the opposite side of her bed and together they seem to dwell in the evening lamplight, isolated from me, private. 'Who are they,' I ask myself, 'he and this wry mouth I have made, who gaze at and touch each other so generously?' The young woman speaks, 'Will my mouth always be like this?' she asks. 'Yes,' I say, 'it will. It is because the nerve was cut.' She nods and is silent. But the young man smiles. 'I like it,' he says. 'It is kind of cute.' He bends to kiss her crooked mouth and I am so close I can see how he twists his own lips to accommodate hers, to show her their kiss still works."

Love is an awesome gift to share!

Dear Jesus, your love is very powerful. Help me to share it. Amen.

Ron Newhouse

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