I was taught that my relationship with God and Jesus happens through the Holy Spirit.

There are loads of biblical/scriptural references in support of that:

96 sightings (Biblegateway NIV), 8 of which are in the OT … “Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” Psalm 51:11 …

And the other 84 … “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26 … “Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” Acts 8:17 … “Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 4:8 … “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”  2 Corinthians 13:14

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This little chap has no idea about God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit.  No idea about sin, original sin, or being forever a sinner saved by grace.  He has not been christened or baptised.  He has never been inside a church building.  He doesn’t even know what a bible is.

Yet love is upon him.  And his love upon us.

His love is pretty minimal – this relationship is really simple – and it is enough.  It is more than enough.  And (if you like that kind of thing) it is “love in action” and it is “love and deeds” and all that “stuff” we learn to think necessary (and then debate evermore).

Just as the complication of parent-child relationship comes with debate … “the terrible twos” … “the teenage years” (or “I never asked to be born!”) … the “age of legal consent” (or “I am an adult and I will do whatever I want whenever I want and you can’t stop me”) … all of that “relationship complication” – complete with labels and advice (and occasional strong drink!)  🙂

And now we are learning that the “father and mother – new mother and new father” relationship becomes simple again.  We just love and agree … love and offer … love and are present (even when we are not).  We give what we have and it is enough.  It is more than enough.

Yet love is upon him.  And his love upon us.

Relationships are not complicated I have learned.  Not unless control is involved.  And then they are.  Oliver might be in control … mum and dad might be … we might be …

Except no one cares.  No one tries to label it.  Oliver gives his love freely and – like the widows’ mite – it is everything he has.  It is more than enough.

Oliver’s love – and ours as grandparents – mostly comes without words.  Words mean control and control gets in the way.  Just as having to figure out the dynamics of God v Jesus v Holy Spirit … having to figure out if the bible says this or that or the other about this or that or the other  … So often all that “complicated religious head stuff” gets in the way.

Yet love is upon him.  And his love upon us.

I have learned that “bathing in the Holy Spirit” is simply being bathed in love.  I have learned that being bathed in love removes any distinction in the head stuff of “lost and saved” … “churched and unchurched” … “sinner and sinner saved by grace” …

Those are words of debate and control and might address the evergreen Christian conundrum of “why is loving God so complicated” … “full of burden and sacrifice” … “littered with service and obedience” … and focused on all that “sin and cross and blood and forgiveness stuff”  (or the “What About Me” years).

And I wonder, if the bible was being assembled today, would it be possible that the many bible editors (bathed in the Holy Spirit) and the religious hierarchy (ditto) and all secular interested parties (probably still bathed in sin) could ever agree on five simple words:

“May love be upon you.”

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I punched that into  Biblegateway NIV … KJV … AKJV … ASV … the Message … and it came back with: 

“Sorry, we didn’t find any results for your search.”

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