A Lenten reflection by SSJ Agrégée Charlene Kellerman

How does God speak to you? Does God have a love language known and understood only between you and God? I believe so. How is it that two (or three or more) people can hear or experience the exact same thing, and, for one, it may be a profound experience, yet it leaves no impact on others? That’s your love language with God.

We must come to learn our love language with God ~ music, paintings, nature, Scripture, people, poems ~ the possibilities are as endless as the universe. Beyond recognizing our love language with God, we have to learn to listen and respond. God speaks to us in a myriad of ways daily, but our often chaotic or distracted lives may not allow us to recognize the messages of love.

For me, God spoke through a redwood bench. I was struggling with a life-changing decision when, out of the blue, a long-forgotten friend sent me this photo and said, “I just got a pool, and I had to put this on our deck in memory of your parents, and I told my kids all about them.” He had inherited the bench from my mom and dad. Through my tears, I smiled at that memory and realized that, at one time, my mom had faced the same decision I was facing.

Knowing that God chose that moment for the photo to arrive allowed me to make my decision confidently and peacefully. The love language for me at that moment was a photo and memories.

This Lent, look and listen for your love language with God.
The conversations can be incredible.