“when the ideal becomes impossible, love doesn’t just give up. It improvises. It finds a way.”
This hit me. My theology, as it was given to me, only “works” if everyone I love behaves, and I never sin. Or, in the alternative, if I pretend I never sin and cut myself off from “them.” You know, those people who can’t seem to get it together. I am weary with pretending. Thanks again for reminding me there is life after removing the blinders.
This image has been living in my mind since I read it. “Love improvises” is such a piercing, holy line — because it names what real compassion looks like when the ideal is impossible. Those nurses didn’t have access to the “right” way, but they refused to let a human being be alone in their suffering. So they created presence inside the constraints.
And the way you connect that to Jesus is exactly right. He never seemed interested in a correctness that abandoned people. Again and again, He finds another way — not to break rules for sport, but to keep love from going cold.
Thank you for writing this. It feels like a gentle permission slip for anyone who’s grieving the loss of certainty: maybe faithfulness isn’t finding the old path again…maybe it’s trusting that love can still find a way to hold on.
Thank you so much for this beautiful article, even though it made me cry. My younger sister died from Covid in 2021 just weeks after her 65th birthday. Much gratitude to nurses and caregivers. Your writing is so appreciated Beau.
“when the ideal becomes impossible, love doesn’t just give up. It improvises. It finds a way.”
This hit me. My theology, as it was given to me, only “works” if everyone I love behaves, and I never sin. Or, in the alternative, if I pretend I never sin and cut myself off from “them.” You know, those people who can’t seem to get it together. I am weary with pretending. Thanks again for reminding me there is life after removing the blinders.
This image has been living in my mind since I read it. “Love improvises” is such a piercing, holy line — because it names what real compassion looks like when the ideal is impossible. Those nurses didn’t have access to the “right” way, but they refused to let a human being be alone in their suffering. So they created presence inside the constraints.
And the way you connect that to Jesus is exactly right. He never seemed interested in a correctness that abandoned people. Again and again, He finds another way — not to break rules for sport, but to keep love from going cold.
Thank you for writing this. It feels like a gentle permission slip for anyone who’s grieving the loss of certainty: maybe faithfulness isn’t finding the old path again…maybe it’s trusting that love can still find a way to hold on.
Thank you. 😢❤️
Tears. Gratitude. After and in the midst of grief.
Jesus is always at least one step ahead of us. Thought provoking, thanks.
What a great metaphor! How cool it must be to see👀in metaphor!
This hit home
Thank you so much for this beautiful article, even though it made me cry. My younger sister died from Covid in 2021 just weeks after her 65th birthday. Much gratitude to nurses and caregivers. Your writing is so appreciated Beau.
Incredible closing remarks Beau! Beautiful writing.