I wonder though if love doesn't rise up as well. Love lifts beleaguered bodies to greet one more day. Love rises out of the ashes of broken relationships, pain-filled memories and the suffering of life. Rising like a freshly baked loaf of bread, love expands and reveals the influence of a little yeast.

Love rises up from the deep places within us asking, "do you have room for me this time of year." Room for love to grow, to deepen and to lead us to places we wouldn't choose to go to ourselves. Can we receive where love wants to take us?

You may have heard of the family in Newfoundland who has a four year old son with cancer. Living four hours from the nearest treatment facility, they needed to pack up their things, bring the rest of their children and relocate for a time while their son received his treatments. Not knowing anyone in this larger centre, they had no place to stay and little money to help cover the costs.

The community heard about this family and found them a place to stay, brought over meals for them and welcomed these strangers into their care. Love rises up and draws goodness from one another. I wonder where you and I will be surprised by love's rising these days.