Review: Eight Ways of Loving God

Trusting in God, especially when bad things happen, is difficult.  At its core, distrust occurs because we don’t know someone, and Who is more unknowable than God?

Jeanette Flood has created a very readable book on how we can grow in love of God, how we can know Him better.  It is a book light on footnotes --- it’s not trying to scientifically prove things to doubters --- and heavy on analogies, to help explain the reasonableness of the Catholic faith.  She describes eight facets of love, and how to overcome barriers to adopting them.  Love trusts, devotes time, obeys their Beloved, apologizes, bears with, loves those He loves, wants to be with Him, and eagerly awaits His presence.

Mrs. Flood gets to the heart of matters quickly.  I liked the simple points she made, like these:

·         “What’s in it for me?”  Love doesn’t ask that question

·         When our plans are ruined, we cling to them instead of discerning His plans.

·         God permits bad things to happen to us to achieve some greater good --- a growth in holiness of us or someone else.

·         What is essential is to believe it (suffering) has meaning.

·         In God’s presence, we had to be soaking in graces.  We were Son-bathing.

·         Obedience: the hardest thing to give up is one’s will.  We don’t like people telling us what to do.  Not even God.

·         To get along with anyone, it is vitally important to realize that we can’t change others.  We desperately want and try to change them, but one can only change oneself.

·         Instead of condemning people, try to understand them.

·         After Communion, a friend once imagined herself as a child lying prostrate before Jesus.  He scooped her up and settled her on His shoulder.  Seeing the wound in His hand, she said, “O Lord, I’m so sorry my sins did that to you.”  He smiled gently and replied, “You’re worth it.”  Can we say that to Him?  Whenever a cross comes our way or an opportunity to do penance, can we smile at Him and say, “You’re worth it”?

Mrs. Flood’s book convincingly explains how and why to love our God, Who so loves us.  And the reader comes to understand Love Himself.  God is Love.

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I’m on retreat this week, and one of my plans is to catch up on reviews of good reads.  I have been blessed with many in recent months.