writing in the dust

… the true and positive and genuinely indescribable joy of the one who loves consists simply in the fact that he may love as one who is loved by God, as the child of God; that as he imitates the divine action he may exist in fellowship with Him, obedient to His Holy Spirit. This is exaltation and gain; this is peace and joy. This is a reason for laughing even when our eyes swim with tears. For in face of this what is the significance of all the cares and failures which even those who love as Christians are certainly not spared? This is the blessedness of him who loves — unsought, unplanned and undesired — even when his love beats against a stone wall, receiving no answer, or only a more or less hostile answer, from the one whom he loves. He does not love him for the sake of his answer, but because he is made free to do so by God.