What Is Love?

Incidents like the mass shooting in Vegas have many engaging in some long overdue soul-searching, including me.  This morning as I journaled, I dug deeper, started mining what's in my heart. Fueled by coffee and the need for some answers, I relentlessly dredged into the depths, leaving no stone unturned.

It led me to this burning question: What is love? It's a word we like to throw around, make cute phrases out of, but do we know what it really entails?

I began my list: It means to lay aside blame, shave away prejudices, forgive flaws, lend a hand, even when it means sacrificing my own needs and wants, see everyone--and I mean every one--through a lens of compassion.

Then, it hit me: there's a profound definition of love in the Bible. A quick Google search helped me find 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7:

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. 

 After reading this, I had to admit an ugly truth about myself:  I can say I love, but I fall short on the daily when I measure what's in my heart against this interpretation. So miserably short.

I don't think I'm alone.

I also don't think this idea of love is reserved only for Christians. It's a good guide for all of us. We need this kind of love in our world to combat the kind of evil we are facing--the kind we have always faced. The evil we hold like an inert grenade--until it blows up in our faces.

So, when you say things like let love rule, love will win, love is greater, love conquers all, keep in mind what love really means.

I'm ready to accept the challenge, embark on the journey. And, I'd love some company.

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