Compassionate Love in a Broken World

She walked for a long, long time in the darkness. The soles of her feet scratching on the hard, rocky ground. The wind batting rain against her and attacking her with cold air. She wasn’t sure how she had ended up in this place or, rather, she would prefer not to think about it. If she did, she knew her heart would start pounding, her breathing would become shorter, quicker. Memories of pain and suffering would resurface. Tears would pour out of her eyes and down her cheeks, so she blotted it out. She walked and walked, getting colder, hungrier, more tired. Suddenly, ahead of her, she saw a blazing bright light. She wasn’t quite sure what it was, so she stumbled on. She carried on through the cold and the rain. Then she stopped. What was that in front of her? Fire. Fire that was inviting and burned with comforting glows of orange and yellow. It was a campfire. She saw people sat around it, talking and laughing. Looking from the outside, she felt the scene emulated something, but she wasn’t quite sure what. An unfamiliar emotion which she had not experienced for a long time and that she didn’t think was possible in her own broken world. It was love, powerful love that felt inescapable. Yet she felt she couldn’t share in this love when her own life was so damaged. She started to turn away. Suddenly, she heard a voice call her name. She turned back and a whole crowd of people were smiling and waving, inviting her to join them. She hesitated. “Do not fear, dear child,” she heard in a gentle voice whisper,“You are so loved. I take what is broken and I make it beautiful. Follow me and let me carry your burdens.” She slowly lifted her feet, one by one, and walked over to the campfire. She was welcomed with love and compassion. Looking at the people surrounding her, broken too, but all bound together by the steadfast love of a Saviour. She sat by the fire and felt lighter, freer. She was filled with an inexplicable sense of indescribable love and joy. “Thank you, Father” she whispered.

Recently, I’ve realised the real extent of God’s love towards the suffering and the broken, and felt compelled to write something that might reflect the feeling of coming from the darkness and seeing the great light.

I’ve only started getting involved with Just Love this year, but it has opened my eyes to so many things, so many situations where justice and love are needed. Through a difficult time at the end of last year, I was also shown how much strength love and compassion can give us when we feel at our weakest.

Stumbling on our own through the darkness is not how we were made to live. Yet it is so hard to take that step towards the light. With the love and compassion of others, that step is made easier. The Ten Commandments instruct us to "love your neighbour as yourself", and in 1 Corinthians 16:14, we are urged to "to do everything in love". When we’re acting for justice, it’s important to remember the reason for it. We want to show God’s love to the broken and invite them in as our brothers and sisters. Jesus loves everyone, no matter their background, and his love is radical. We are disciples of He who is so passionate about justice in this broken world. To bring about justice, it is absolutely essential that everyone experiences the uncontainable, fiery love of God.

Let’s welcome the cold, hungry and broken to join us beside the campfire. A warm flame that is so powerful but so fulfilling. The light shining in the seemingly never-ending darkness. Ignite a fire in your heart to radically love and let that love spread like flames, inviting the broken to join in it. Let it be uncontrollable.