Do we recognize how much we need God’s love in our life, or put a different way, how much do we desire that love that only God can fulfill? Our lives are so busy, we tend to just push away this desire or we may not even think about it at all. But even when we do contemplate God’s love, we can only express it in terms that a limited human mind can do (like below), in terms of things that are familiar, but it’s so much more than that.
I came across a familiar poem today that expressed, in worldly terms, how much one can desire the love of another, and it reminded me more of whether we desire God at least like this, or is it only this powerfully expressed for the things of this world? If we can express worldly love “like the hot needs the sun, like honey on her tongue, like oxygen, I need your love”, how much greater is the love God has for us? Without the desire for God’s love, and for His Glory, we are just about in the same shape as my widow pictured above, broken.
I have gone over the words below about twenty times now, it’s pretty powerful (even more when put to music), but how much more should we desire God’s love… probably more than we need to take our next breath.
I Need Your Love
Like a desert needs rain Like a town needs a name I need your love Like a drifter needs a room Hawkmoon I need your love Like a rhythm unbroken Like drums in the night Like sweet soul music Like sunlight I need your love Like coming home And you don't know where you've been Like black coffee Like nicotine I need your love (I need your love) When the night has no end And the day yet to begin As the room spins around I need your love Like a Phoenix rising needs a holy tree Like the sweet revenge of a bitter enemy I need your love Like the hot needs the sun Like honey on her tongue Like the muzzle of a gun Like oxygen I need your love (I need your love) When the night has no end And the day yet to begin As the room spins around I need your love Like thunder needs rain Like a preacher needs pain Like tongues of flame Like a sheet stained I need your love Like a needle needs a vein Like someone to blame Like a thought unchained Like a runaway train I need your love Like faith needs a doubt Like a freeway out I need your love Like powder needs a spark Like lies need the dark I need your love I need all the love in your heart... and I need all the love in your heart...
47 responses to “Jesus, I need Your Love, Hawkmoon”
@Joel: “what if God existed outside your sphere of experience and limited knowledge?”
Then I wouldn’t be making any claims about what this speculative god wants, desires, demands, or will be doing–would I?
Somehow this fact about our limited knowledge does not even slow down, let alone stop theists from making all these claims and more!
@Rob it’s hard to get down in the gutter on internet trash talk and not get dirty 🙂
People will aways find a way or an excuse to leave God out of their lives, claiming that they are their own god, no matter how sound (or unsound) the argument is, at least eventually, the Truth will be revealed and every knee will bow and every tongue confess before the one true God and Savior.
May I mention what look to me like a couple of misunderstandings?
First, Scott:
“mentioning your ‘partner’ earlier was the launching platform for your gay rant”
As you appear sensitive to the importance of avoiding unwarranted generalizations (something which appeals to the mathematician in me), you may wish to consider that plenty of straight couples refer to each other as a “partner” or “life partner.”
Second, Joel:
“My point is this: It is philosophically and logically absurd to state your belief that there is no God, and you have said that.”
Having read everything here so far, I see no one stating a “BELIEF that there is no God” (emphasis added). This is a very common misconception. While some atheists might state something like that, or believe something like that, the bigger picture is that every atheist by definition LACKS a belief in the existence of any of the imagined gods. This is a vital distinction for those who wish to understand clearly what others are really saying, feeling and thinking. This is why I place a high value on the effort of reading and listening carefully.
To illustrate this distinction outside a religious context, consider the possibility of an odd perfect number (you can find the definition online; it’s easy to understand). No one knows if there is one or not. We know of quite a few EVEN perfect numbers. But odd ones? Now I personally do not have any belief in the existence of an odd perfect number.
Will you tell me that I stated how I believe that an odd perfect number does NOT exist?
Because I don’t believe that, either. I have no evidence either way, so the only honest thing for me to do is to suspend judgment. That means I do not believe the assertion that one exists; it does not mean I believe the contrary assertion. Do you see how that works?
One more thing. If someone told me about a personal belief in an odd perfect number, then I would (with some anticipation) ask for the supporting evidence. If he or she responded to my request by saying in effect that you just have to have faith, then my lack of belief would not be affected. Evidence matters to me. It’s possible that I could end up believing that this person is self-deluded, because when you boil it down to the essentials, faith is just a way of saying “belief without evidence.” And what is self-delusion if not that?
@ MR Fillmer That is not what he said to me. He stated that I made a positive assertion that there is NO god. There is quite a distinction between a lack of belief as in the definition of the word “atheist” and his assertion.
As for addressing me, if you or he were standing in front of me, I would still insist on you addressing me formally as you are not my friends and I have not invited you to address me by my first name.
And just for clarification, I help promote gay and lesbian rights but happen to be heterosexual. You made a huge assumption about me simply because I chose to use the term “partner” rather than “manfriend” Who is the one leaping to erroneous conclusions without evidence once again?
As for my feelings about christians, the fact is, you proclaiming yourself as a “true christian” but being so hateful towards gays while disingenuously proclaiming “but I am not a homophobe” simply reinforces the ridiculousness of your position while cementing mine
@Scott: “People will [claim] they are their own god,”
Who does this? I’ve seen that expression before, and in my experience it invariably originates from religious people trying to make sense out of those who do not happen to share their beliefs.
It seems so misleading! After all, if I don’t believe in leprechauns, does this mean I am claiming that I am my own leprechaun? Really? Please tell me you can see how this is not a sensible conclusion.
Speaking for myself, I live exactly as if there are no gods outside human imagination. This includes myself. I’m quite human, and well aware of it.
“eventually, the Truth will be revealed”
Or it may not be. If you honestly give some thought to the possibility of your eschatology and related religious beliefs being mistaken, then you have to acknowledge that maybe there will be no such revelation.
As for me, and I think it’s not too big a stretch to say this is true for the overwhelming majority of atheists, I’m more interested in evidence than in “threats of Hell and hopes of Paradise!” (as the poet phrased it)
Let me ask, what is it that you wish to communicate by repeating the formulaic expression of “every knee will bow” etc.? It can come across like a taunt, which I suspect is not your intent.