Reaching the End

“Many people start on the spiritual path but never reach the end.” Teresa of Avila, The Book of My Life (1562)

All week long I have been thinking about my dear friend Sister Timothy Kirby who remained on the spiritual path her whole life and who has been and will continue to be an inspiration to other spirit seekers.

Sister Tim was lovelovelove to me, the embodiment of the first reading in my prayer book today which comes from I John 4: “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God...God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.” I've studied this text for a very long time—Brad and I chose it for our New Testament wedding text thirty-one years ago—and each time I read it I feel encouraged to become more loving. (Brad and my children probably wish I would read this text every morning because we would all reap the benefits.)

Teresa writes in The Book of My Life, “Many people start on the spiritual path but never reach the end.” I am a beginner on this path and have a very long way to go. Sister Tim is miles ahead of me, and now she has crossed over to walk on the other side. I plan to meet up with her someday, and I hope you will join us too. Until then, I'll just keep trudging along praying all the while that God keeps us moving in the direction of Sister Tim and that someday after all the walking—all those endless steps!—God and Tim and you and I will meet together in a circle of lovelovelove.

Amen.