reading between John's lines

I can't quite believe it, but I'm about to hit LoveGodLovePeople again. Rest assured, it's not that I'm stale or myopic, just unable to escape this theme in my meditations & hence seeking to be true to that 'in print'. That said, it's sufficiently reoccuring to warrant it's own category, now created with three previous posts reclassified.

During a sharing time in CCN staff a couple of months ago, I did a version (with help from a flip chart) of backwards mirror of loving people. During that time, I went further than in my post, referencing

1. those that know us & love us
2. those that know us but don't love us
3. those we don't yet know at all &
4. those we don't yet know at all who are ' poor'

In blogging (including lessons from the littles & let's get to scripture), I haven't gone to the 'extremes' - concentrating on category 1, flirting with the thought of the less lovable (category 2) & ignoring the rest. Today I'm going to start to address that gap, it will take my a few posts!

The latest prompt came from reading John 13 - the section where Jesus washes the feet of His disciples. We aren't told that He washed Judas' feet, but since he is named as being there both before & after, I'm going to assume his participation.

I have a tendency to sometimes read the bible at a bit of a pace, something I'm keen to rectify. When I take more time & consider the context, I often find myself with extra thoughts to ponder...Jesus knew what Judas was up to (every bit of it) & He washed his feet! Take a minute - for Jesus to be washing anyone's feet was strange & culturally incorrect, but Judas was

• the fella who ran their money & was bent with it
• the chap He'd spent three years pouring His life into who was about to betray Him
• the bloke whom Satan had firmly in his grip (v.2) & was about to enter (v.27)

Jesus chose to love through serving. I've already confessed to finding it difficult to even love some of the people I do know, even when they love me. Now I have to get my head round loving people who know me yet don't love me...do me a favour.

The next step would be to consider one of the final two categories (the unknown & the poor) - truth is I'd love to rush on & whilst massively challenged by our need to work with & love the 'poor', I'd be letting myself off the hook by doing that.

So, here I sit & ponder my attitude & the state of some relationships. Am I dissatisfied enough (ref epiphany & equations), to actually do something about it? I hope so & I guess we'll find out.

Yours - signed up for the long haul

Jonathan