Quotes With Meaning
To be commanded to love God at all, let alone in the wilderness, is like being commanded to be well when we are sick, to sing for joy when we are dying of thirst, to run when our legs are broken. But this is the first and great commandment nonetheless. Even in the wilderness - especially in the wilderness - you shall love him.
To be commanded to love God at all, let alone in the wilderness, is like being commanded to be well when we are sick, to sing for joy when we are dying of thirst, to run when our legs are broken. But this is the first and great commandment nonetheless. Even in the wilderness - especially in the wilderness - you shall love him.
The quote emphasizes the difficulty of being told to love God, especially in challenging times, similar to being asked to act normally when facing hardships. Buechner uses the metaphor of a wilderness, a place of struggle and despair, to illustrate the emotional and spiritual conflict people experience. He recognizes that loving God can feel impossible when we are suffering or in distress, yet it remains a vital commandment. This commandment is not about blind obedience; rather, it highlights the importance of faith and connection to God even in our darkest moments. In essence, loving God in tough times can lead to personal growth and a deeper understanding of freedom and resilience. The takeaway is that even in our most difficult experiences, we are called to seek and nurture our relationship with the divine.