Take Off Your Hat

 Photo by Monica Turlui from Pexels.

Jodi prayed to feel God’s love. Her answer came in a dream. As a teenager, she’d ridden a bus to school. Every day she saw the boy she knew adored her. They were friends and spoke occasionally, but she had no romantic interest. She knew he’d do anything to be closer, but she kept him at a safe distance. 

In her dream, 16-year-old Jodi sat alone on the bus with her wannabe boyfriend safely across the aisle. She invited him to sit with her. When he came close, she leaned gently and rested her head on his shoulder. She felt safe and loved. He tipped his head and kissed the front of her hat. As she said, “My hat blocked his kiss.”

I wouldn’t normally speak of adolescent infatuation and divine love in the same breath, but her dream came as a direct answer to a sincere pleading. For me, the meaning seemed clear.

If you want to feel divine love, invite it. Then be vulnerable enough to take off your hat. Whether your hat is fear, insecurity, resentment, distraction, or some other barrier you’ve put on to feel safe, just take it off and receive.