Dear KG.

I took some time off from writing. But I’m okay. Thanks for asking.

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A few weeks ago, Ben’s aunt got married. His dad’s sister. Ben was assigned to a table at the reception. Along with his mom and dad. And his dad’s parents. And his mom’s parents. And his uncle (dad’s sister). Every seat at his table was filled with his people. The people who love him. Who care about him. Who care for him. Who make him laugh.

And the people who are very aware that he is three. We all are aware that he’s still learning, that his attention span for some things is limited at best. (Though his attention span for making water run through the segments of plastic pipe that he assembles is remarkable.)

He’s no theologian. But he lives with abandon, knowing he’s loved.

I’m very aware that Ben is so fortunate.

But I thought about this story a couple weeks ago on Pentecost Sunday, and again on Trinity Sunday. I thought about sitting at a wedding with all the members of the Trinity, each full of love and affection. Each very aware that we understand much less that we think we understand about God’s love and compassion.

And I think about this story when I hear people constantly fearing and warning about the scolding of God. And the people wanting the head table at the feast. And all the other stories Jesus told about people wanting power over others.

As I told the story in chapel on one of those Sundays, there were tears in my eyes. Grateful for the love Ben knows as he lives with 3-year-old abandon. Wistful for the love we may be missing as we worry so much about falling short of the love around the table.