Grappling With Divinity

We are not asked to love
it is not a mere suggestion
we are commanded to love
to love God
to love our neighbors
to love our enemies
to pray for those
who persecute us
to forgive our fellows
seventy times seven times
this is not convenient love
it is the hardest love to give
it comes with no worldly reward
not even prideful satisfaction
in fact – it hurts
for this is the love
of crucifixion

~Robert Van Valkenburgh