Becoming Love's Apprentice

In a poem entitled A Night in Ireland, Anne Porter wrote about a dream in which she stumbled across the door to heaven and was about to knock, whereupon:

Someone spoke to me

I think it was an angel

He said You’ve come too soon

Go back into the towns

Live there as love’s apprentice

And God will give you his kingdom

So that’s why we’re here on earth—to be love’s apprentice! Apprentices bind themselves to a skilled worker to learn a trade, art, or calling through practical experience. Thus, if we are called to learn the art of love, we must make a covenant with a skilled worker and practice, practice, practice.

Christians make their apprenticeship covenant with the greatest lover of all, Jesus, who taught us compassion through the story of the Good Samaritan, forgiveness through the parable of the Prodigal Son, service by washing the feet of his disciples, and dying to self through obedience to his own call to share God’s love with the world.

It is our willingness to be love’s apprentice that opens the door of God’s kingdom to us. May we meet there at the threshold to new life!