Life is full of choices. Life is also full of clichéd statements. Love and all things associated with it seem to generate a whole universe of clichéd statements and ideas. Unfortunately because of our Hallmark inspired understanding of love we often miss out on what this powerful word really means, and how it can shape our lives.
Living in community is not easy. Each day as in marriage you wake up to the same faces, the same habits, the same people, and with each day you learn more and more about those individuals that surround you. What you learn is not always what you expect, and is most certainly not always easy to face. Some characteristics of our friends, family, and spouses don’t always sit with us in a manner that makes us joy filled and smiley. Unfortunately we often choose to react, or deal with aspects of these relationships in an unhealthy manner. We often choose to remain silent and brew in our frustration with one another, or even lash out and possibly scar the hearts of those that surround us. We all too often let our emotions govern our actions; we often don’t choose to love.
When you ask most people what is love, besides those who respond “baby don’t hurt me”, you will often hear a description of emotions or feelings while the person stands before you glossy eyed gazing into the distance. That’s great, but the older I get, the more people I meet, and the more places I go, I have begun to realize that Love is not governed by emotion, but is instead based upon action and choice.
A wise man once described love in a pretty good book, this is what he said, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” It is so easy to read this passage and think, “Oh that’s great, how poetic”, and it is, but upon further examination, I began to notice, Paul’s description of love has nothing to do with emotion. Actually when we think about what it looks like to live out the love that Paul is describing, it doesn’t always mean that we are going to be emotionally satisfied or even happy. Instead love seems to be a calling, something we choose to take part in, an action, a way of life.
I say all this not to be a vernacular policeman, but instead to point to the love that we as followers of Christ are called to. This may not always be neat and clean, and it may not always end with a happily ever after, but it is what is worth living, and even dying for. Love, true love, is what I seek to know, for it is the only law in the kingdom I wish to inhabit.
Thank Y’all for reading; feel free to leave a comment. I am currently 4,500 dollars away from reaching my next financial deadline for The World Race. If you would like to donate or sponsor me just click on the link labeled, “support me” on the left side of this page. Thank you so much. Shalom.
Sincerely in Christ,
Garrett Hammonds
