Poured out Love--Rumi, kenosis, Philippians, Christ's example

I was able to go to the Centering Prayer group yesterday, making it back two weeks in a row now! Hurray!  We are still working through Cynthia Bourgeault's book Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening.  The section we read together on Friday was primarily on kenosis, the act of self-emptying. 

As part of the reading, there was a poem by Rumi on love.  Bourgeault mentioned that this poem goes well with the hymn found in Philippians 2:9-16 (which she had discussed earlier in the chapter as an example of kenosis, page 83).

Rumi's poem:

Love is recklessness, not reason.
Reason seeks a profit,
Love comes on strong, consuming herself,
          Unabashed.

Yet in the midst of suffering
Love proceeds like a millstone,
Hard-surfaced and straight-forward.

Having died to self-interest,
She risks everything and asks for nothing.
Love gambles away every gift God bestows.

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These words by Rumi speak to me (as do the verses in Philippians 2:9-16 and kenosis). 

Love radically given and poured out for others..... that's Christ's example for us.  It is truly an awesome example.  Not so easy to model.  It resonates within; it just doesn't seem to flow out so readily, at least not all the time.  I think some drops drip or ooze out from time to time.  There might even be a steady flow here and there, but then my selfishness and humanity plug up the open places from where the love was flowing and then the outpouring isn't pouring out so much anymore. 

Desiring to be like the One who died to self and gave everything up for others, yet not always being able to live into that skin.  It's an ongoing growing process.  It's a journey.

Thankfully, we're not in this process or on this journey alone.  We are surrounded by others who are seeking to grow and learn and love too.  We are able to encourage and support one another in the ups and downs, in the ebb and flow, in the ins and outs.  Community is a true blessing, whether that community is visible, local, or across the ocean.

Blessings on your journey,
Debra