Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Everyday Black Matters

Home
Progressive Christian
I Love You Infinity

I Love You Infinity

Last updated on: January 12, 2013 at 2:19 pm by Grace Sandra

I Love You Infinity 2013-01-12T14:19:27-04:00 Grace Sandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

As I head off to Tampa today to work my lil’ tail-feather off for 8 days, I thought it would be incredible to allow my blog to be occupied by a diversity of authors. Today begins the beginning of a new series: When God Speaks {or doesn’t}. I’ve invited 12 gifted writers to share their stories of open or closed communication with God, and I’m amazed at what they all have to say. So. Let’s roll…

Today we begin with Gerald Barrett. Jerry is a new friend from a local writer’s group I joined last Fall. Jerry is a GIFTED poet whose writing I deeply respect. In fact, I’ve shared his gorgeous Christmas poem here before. It was the piece below, which he read at our Writer’s group that inspired the topic for this series. Thanks, Jer for kicking us off today with this lovely piece…

“I Love You Infinity”

The Poet Wendell Berry writes:

Eternity is not infinity.

It is not a long time.

It does not begin at the end of time.

It does not run parallel to time.

In its entirety it always was.

In its entirety it will always be.

It is entirely present always.

p. 47 Leavings, Poems

We have a six-year-old sassafras. Her name is Emily. Whenever my wife or I tell her we love her she one-ups us. The other night when I tucked her in I said I loved her and she fired back “I love you more!” How can a little tart exude such power over my heart? She also responded “I love you to the moon and back!” many times. But the reverberation that catches my mind and heart is:

“I love you infinity!”

Followed by

“I love you infinity, infinity, infinity!”

Really? Wow! This little pip-squeak set in time, my time, to blow my mind and detonate my heart. In my estimation that equals a thousand of Ann Voskamp’s gifts. I am grateful.

Buzz Lightyear, embossed my frontal cortex a while ago with his intellectually defunct statement:

“To infinity…and beyond!”

I talked to a friend recently about the infinitesimal real estate us humans can inhabit. Think about it. Only 29% of the earth is land. Humans can merely ascend so high before running out of oxygen. We can only dive so deep before the pressure wrings us like a rag.

We are walled in. We are essentially tucked in a linen closet of the universe. Why?

Dear God,

I don’t want to be unthankful, but why are we so fenced in? Is it because we couldn’t handle a little gardening? Is it because we are in time out?

Sincerely, Jerry

Dear Jerry,

My ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts. Do you want me to start the “where were you when the foundations of the earth were laid” speech? Listen, these vast uninhabitable spaces are there to keep you wondering about Me. They are giving you room to imagine and not fence me in. I didn’t hem in the universe to show you there is always room to grow. I put bright and colorful creatures in the deepest, darkest place of the ocean so you would know there is so much more. You will never be satisfied on earth like the thought C. S. Lewis wrote which wrinkled your little brain: “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” You are ultimately made for another world. Although the world is busted up, I have given you the sense to take in what I have revealed thus far with awe and gratitude. There are gifts, way more than a thousand, but you can start counting and thanking. I like that.

About that little tart of yours, I dare you to love her back…infinity, infinity, infinity.

I love you infinity and beyond,

God

Gerald Barrett can be found writing poetry, prose, and a smidge of essay on his blog at geraldthewriter.com. He is married 26 years to Barbara Barrett, his confidant and best friend. They have twelve children and live in the Midwest. Their journey includes the fostering and adoption of two sibling groups of four added to their four biological children. They are affectionately referred to as “Original Recipe, Crispy, and Extra Crispy.

Gerald is currently working on a short memoir about the last two years of his mother’s life. He continues to write poems and short stories and essays for his blog. He is a member of Word Weavers, a writing critique group. He is a member of the Kalamazoo Christian Writer’s critique group.

When God Doesn't Speak

When God Speaks

Previous Post

January 8, 2013

So. I'm in my late thirties now

Next Post

January 14, 2013 When God Speaks the Unexpected

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abortion Abuse Survivor African Americans Black Campus Ministries Blogging Books Celebrities Depression Detroit Divorce Dreams entrepreneurialista Family Fashion Fashion & Hair Fashion Finds Fashion Tips Fitness & Body Love For You Girly-Girl Giveaways! Goal Setting Hair Adventures Home Human Trafficking Humor & Fun InterVarsity iphone Apps iphoneography Leadership Marriage Memoir Mentoring Movies Music My Faith My Life My Pregnant Life My Weight Watcher's Journey Netizen One Word Opinion Parenting Photography Policy Politics Pop Culture Product Reviews Race & Ethnicity Racism Ransom Rhys Second Marriage Self Leadership Social Justice Social Media Spiritual Disciplines T.V. Uncategorized Western Theological Seminary What I Wore What I Wore Wednesday Writing Writing Tips

Select a Month May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 December 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 April 2016 March 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 July 2015 June 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz