God is wide

A few days ago, a street vendor was trying to sell me something at a robot and spotted the tattoo on my arm. He first complimented it and then asked what it meant. I started saying it was from Ghana, and he immediately broke in, "God is wide!" making an expansive gesture with his hands. I've heard the meaning of my tattoo described in various ways, such as 'God is soveriegn' or 'God is in all things' but I think 'God is wide' is my favourite. And the fact that a street vendor recognised it pleased me a lot!

I've been learning the past few years that God is wider than anything we can possibly conceptualise and because of this can embrace a diversity of people, situations, contexts and events with a love and acceptance we can barely imagine.

Every time I glimpse my tattoo I am reminded of God's expansiveness (how high and wide and deep and broad is God's love, says Paul!) and I feel myself expanding to embrace more of myself, others and the world around me.