“Whatever is not given is lost because, as we ourselves must one day die, all that we have clung to, to the very end, will die with us, but what we have given away will escape corruption for it has been sent ahead into eternity.”
Raniero Cantalmessa, Come, Creator Spirit: Meditations on the Veni Creator (Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2003) 86.
This morning I am in Franklin, TN, in the home of a dear brother, J.D. Walt. He authored, Creed, a seven-week reflection on the Apostle’s Creed, which Sammy and I read through this past Summer. J.D. is also a songwriter. Among his songs is Uncreated One made famous by Chris Tomlin.
J.D. was generous to give me this book, Come, Creator Spirit, which has significantly shaped his life. Based on the excerpt I read this morning, I commend it to you. Raniero Cantalmessa holds the role of “Preacher to the Papal Household” or in plain terms, he’s the Pope’s (and J.D.‘s) preacher.
J.D. serves as “Chief Sower” of Seedbed, Asbury Theological Seminary’s virtual field in which I have sown videos and resources for a Great Awakening. Last night J.D. spoke a powerful word: “We don’t give love because we have it; we have love because we give it.” Amen! Meditate on that today (cf. 1 Jn 4:11-12)!