I didn’t know Lord
how much you wanted me
to be your salt of the earth
your light of the world
your city upon the hill
I didn’t know Lord
how much you loved me
to be perfect as you are perfect
whole as you are whole
to love as you have loved
I didn’t know Lord
that all these years
you have been calling me
drawing me nearer
unfolding your love in my life
if only I would choose to see
I didn’t know Lord
that this whole time
you wanted nothing from me
other than to be with me
the best and worst parts of me
I didn’t know Lord
that I needed only to listen
I’m sorry I didn’t listen sooner
here I am Lord
I am yours
~Robert Van Valkenburgh
Reflection:
There are moments in the spiritual life when we look back and realize that God has been speaking all along. Not loudly, not forcefully, but gently — in invitations, in stirrings of the heart, in quiet reminders that we are called to something more. Every once in a while, we may be graced with a thought, an experience, or a feeling that opens our eyes or our hearts to the undeniable reality that we are loved, and that we have always been loved, unconditionally, exactly as we are.
To be the salt of the earth, the light of the world, and the city upon the hill is not a burden placed upon us but a truth revealed within us. God calls us to live from the love already given, to reflect the grace already poured out. And so often, we do not see it at first. We misunderstand the call as pressure, the command as demand, the invitation as expectation. Only later do we realize that behind it all was a voice simply saying, “Come closer.”
What strikes the heart most deeply is the realization that God has never been waiting for our performance. He has been waiting for our presence — not what we could do, prove, or become, but our willingness to be found, to be held, to be drawn into love. The turning point of the spiritual life is rarely dramatic. It is often this quiet surrender: “Here I am, Lord… I am yours” (Isaiah 6:8, Psalm 119:94).
Question for Meditation:
Where in your life might God already be calling you closer, even if you are only now beginning to notice?
Related Scripture:
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden.” — Matthew 5:14
For Further Reading: If you enjoyed this piece, you may also like The Kingdom Within: Heavenly Treasure In Earthly Life (Oratio Divina)
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