From the beginning God loved us in our nakedness and weakness, and even in our stubbornness back in the Garden. God loved us through the wilderness and through the rebellion. Over and over we can identify personally with the stories in the Bible that reflect human conditions and God's love. God even loved us when we nailed him on the cross. God loves us today. Unconditional love.

Why then is it so difficult for us to love others as God loves us? We have The Role Model, we experience unconditional love ourselves. Yet we continue to place conditions on those we love, often without realizing it. The ability to love unconditionally seems beyond the capability of humankind.

But with God, all things are possible. If we call on God's spirit, if we strive to follow God's lead, we may learn to love one another as God loves us, freely and completely and with no conditions.

Dear God, thank you for your unconditional love. We call on your spirit. Teach us how to love as you love. Amen.