This poem by George Herbert, titled Love (III), beautifully portrays the gentle and inviting nature of God's love inviting us to prayer:
Love bade me welcome:
yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love,
observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me,
sweetly questioning
If I lacked anything.
When I read this poem as an invitation to prayer, it reminds me that despite our feelings of unworthiness or guilt, God's love is always welcoming and ready to embrace us. The image of Love sweetly questioning the soul about its needs reflects God's desire for a deep and personal relationship with each of us, where we can bring our fears, doubts, and needs into His presence.
