So the tug of war seems never ending. God, love, sin, relationship, belonging, companionship! Is there a human “out there” who just doesn’t want to fit in, belong to something/someone, be loved and know that they are valued just as they are? Would you argue with me if I answered for all of us and said no? Those desires are in the deepest most hidden level of every single one of us. That’s the mystery, though. Where does that universal hunger come from?
You may or may not be a person of prayer or even a theological thinker. I must tell you, though, that if you have ever had a single thought about any of the topics in the first paragraph you have been doing some praying. Surprise! There is really only one conclusion that any of us can come to when we think about something that is present in every human. That’s the idea that the source is something/someone that is bigger and all-encompassing than all of us put together, God. Prayer is simply dialog with God. So chances are you really have been praying.
When we think about a “universal”, some idea, precept, concept that exists everywhere it’s only natural to think about a common source. So could it be possible that God himself thinks about the same thing you do when it comes to what he desires. The shocking answer is, you bet. Remember that one of the foundations of Jesus’s salvation for the human race was that he was human like us. God wants to “belong” too.
From the beginning He is not shy or hidden about how much He desires to belong and hungers for companionship. This is clearly part of his dream for the future of the human race and his chosen people. Wow!
‘Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.” Exodus 6:7
“Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God.” Exodus 29:45
“For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.” Deuteronomy 7:6
Notice that the words to his prophets always bring us to a time when God is together with his people and they belong to each other (Exodus 6:7), as well as how sweetly and tenderly he regards his people (Deut. 7:6). The readings in both Old and New Testament refer over and over again to how good it will be when the chosen people love and trust God again and how good it will be when they are together. This was God’s Dream from day one, the Garden of Eden. The Lord gave people perfection and walked with humans daily. But we lost that.
Even in the heart of the sorrow that man betrayed Him God still waits for us. He aches for the day we can be together in peace and obedience. That’s God’s dream and it is still alive in everyone who loves and trusts Him. He longs for the peaceable kingdom to blossom and for the unrestricted companionship of the human race. In the meantime, He does his best to communicate His love, never ending hope and encouragement. He shapes the world around us with forces unseen and recruits volunteers who will carry forth the effort. God has plans and hopes for each of us, not only personally but on a scale that is beyond our imagination. Individually every one of us is a critical element in the biggest plan of all, his dream for mankind. That would make each of us to be a Keeper of His Dream. In all of time and eternity it is not possible for you or I to be more loved and desired.
“I know well the plans I have in mind for you—oracle of the LORD—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
Copyright© 2016, Kathryn M. Cunningham
Kathryn M. Cunningham
Kathryn holds a Master’s in Education from Saint Xavier University. Most recently she completed Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies from The Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. This recent degree was part of a “retirement project” after teaching for 35 years. She has also worked as a spiritual director, music minister,council member and prayer team warrior. Kathryn has a deep interest in catechesis for the people in the pews. As a “sort of” convert she finds the wisdom of the Church a source for encouragement, joy and survival in a world not sure of anything. Her writing has appeared in diocesan publications and on-line sites, most recently for Zenit. To learn more about Kathryn check out her thinking at: www.atravelersview.org">ATravelersView.org.
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