Cunnery Wood in Halifax is my favourite place for spotting the first spring bluebells, and this was the scene this morning – an abundance of bluebells! I’m supposed to be writing an ethics essay today but I’ve decided to enjoy some sunshine this morning while Amy is at her music group. As the bluebells came into view I was reminded of Henri Nouwen’s meditation email for today:
“God is a god of abundance, not a god of scarcity. Jesus reveals to us God’s abundance when he offers so much bread to the people that there are twelve large baskets with leftover scraps (see John 6:5-15), and when he makes his disciples catch so many fish that their boat nearly sinks (Luke 5:1-7). God doesn’t give us just enough. God gives us more than enough: more bread and fish than we can eat, more love than we dared to ask for.
God is a generous giver, but we can only see and enjoy God’s generosity when we love God with all of our hearts, minds, and strength. As long as we say, “I will love you, God, but first show me your generosity,” we will remain distant from God and unable to experience what God truly wants to give us, which is life and life in abundance.”
I couldn’t have put that any better myself. That’s often the case with Henri Nouwen. His wise generous words live on in adundance.