"Loving-Kindness" | Reflection by Christy Stang, Seminarian

Loving-kindness. “Tender and benevolent affection,” the Merriam-Webster dictionary tells us. When I think of loving-kindness, I think of the kind of tenderness and love that really sees people and seeks to understand them. The kind of affection and intentionality where someone looks into your eyes as they listen to you and you feel like they are peering into your soul. Loving-kindness is truly seeing someone. It is relationship. It is support. It is presence. This kind of connection can be intimidating in its vulnerability, but it is abundant in its unconditionality. Loving-kindness doesn’t require us to be anything more than we already are. It sees all that we are and loves us for it.

The image that comes to mind for me is Jesus inviting the children to come close to him in Matthew 19:13-15. Jesus is persistent in his loving-kindness, in pursuing connection with God’s children of all ages. Loving-kindness is not passive, but is an active way of considering and connecting with others through affection. Loving-kindness can mean advocating for lifting up the voices of the marginalized, amplifying their voices instead of their own. To be loving does not mean to be meek, and to be kind does not mean to be a pushover. Loving-kindness shows a gentle kind of strength, grounded in presence. In Jesus’ case, he showed loving-kindness to those children through making space for them and inviting them into his open arms. Where might Jesus be advocating for you today? How might God be inviting you into divine presence?

Words in the Wilderness - Walk through the season of Lent with Trinity, one word at a time. Every day (except on Sundays) we will post a photo and a brief refection written by someone in our Trinity community. https://www.trinitynewhaven.org/words-in-the-wilderness