What do you see when you encounter another person? What thoughts go through your head? What thoughts go through your heart? Recently, I was confronted with this notion by two stories that invited me to do a little Deep Sea Loving.
What Who Do You See?
The first story was about Mother Teresa. One evening, she and a couple of sisters picked up four people from the streets-one of whom was a lady in terrible condition. She had wounds with maggots. (To be completely honest, I am still repulsed imagining this sight.) Mother Teresa told the sisters that she would take care of this woman. After cleaning her up and putting her to bed, the lady took Mother Teresa’s hand and with a smile on her face, she looked at her and said, “Thank You.” And then she died.
The second story was about a little boy named Ryland. This is his story.
Photo Credit: Hillary and Jeff Whittington
Are We Quick To Love or Quick To Judge?
Do you see a person by his title, label, physical attributes, advantages/disadvantages, social status, what he/she can or cannot do for you, etc. OR Do you see an opportunity to love?
Let’s be honest.
Our love is conditional. What’s in it for me?
Our love is judgmental. I can love you because you do life just like me.
Our love is partial. When it is easy, convenient, popular.
Our love is often blinded by what we see (with our physical eyes). All we see are the wounds and the maggots.
Our love is based on how we feel. Do I feel like it today?
Our love is often a fraction of what it could be.
And then there’s a LOVE that changes everything…and everyone.
It’s not easy or necessarily convenient. In fact, it’s in the hard places of life, the moments of inconvenience, obscurity, unpopularity, and trials that Love makes itself known…and shown.
It was first modeled by a man who came to give hope and an invitation to life…eternal life.
It was a call to a new way of thinking, a new way of behaving, a new way of living.
It’s a love that challenges us to our very core, shakes off the fluff in us, and awakens us to a life of meaning, purpose, and intention. It calls us to hear on purpose because we are HERE on purpose.
Loving the Jesus way is radical, revolutionary, and ridiculously hard and amazing all at the same time.
The love He teaches, models, and invites us to live is…unconditional.
Unconditional love is relentless.
Unconditional love is full of hope.
Unconditional love is steadfast.
Unconditional love sees the BEST and forgives the worst in others and in ourselves.
Unconditional love goes first when it wants to go last and goes last when it wants to go first.
Unconditional love invites us and more often than not, challenges us to be better, live better, and love more deeply.
Unconditional love is messy and is not jaded by our emotions, logical thinking or reasoning.
Unconditional love is WHOLEhearted. It’s a full-time job. So if you’re looking for something casual or part-time, this isn’t for you.
Unconditional love is gentle yet powerful.
Unconditional love empowers, encourages, and inspires.
Unconditional love is patient and kind.
Unconditional love heals and restores.
Unconditional love is available to anyone who wants to receive it.
Unconditional love never ends.
Unconditional love is what all of us (that’s you and that’s me) long for.
Unconditional love is….dangerous. It’s dangerous because it has the power to transform everything (we create, design, write, read, see, etc.) and everyone.
Unconditional love is an invite to you and I to live…and be fully alive.
Beautiful friend, you and I were created to make a difference. And the greatest, most significant difference we can make is through our love. Unconditional Love is not a one day thing nor a some day thing, it’s an every day lifestyle that happens one moment, one choice, one action at a time. I want to love the Jesus way. I want the love I give, the love I show, the love I live to make a difference. But the truth is, I can’t do it in my own strength. And if you’re being completely honest, you know that you can’t either. We’re imperfect. We all have faults. We all have flaws. And we all have wounds with maggots (a.k.a something that we are ashamed of, embarrassed by, labeled as, self-conscience of, insecure about, etc.). It’s the very thing that connects us. Unconditional Love looks past the wounds and sees the person who is hurting, in pain, misunderstood, alone, frightened, hungry for love. It’s a love that says, “You Matter. You Are Worth It.”
My hope and prayer is that we as people, as a family, as a community, as a world be more like God who is “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.“-Psalm 145:8
And may you and I live each day by remembering to “Love by example.”-Ophellia McKnight
“Better Place”
By: Rachel Platten
I’ll tell the world, I’ll sing a song
It’s a better place since you came along
Since you came along
Your touch is sunlight through the trees
Your kisses are the ocean breeze
Everything’s alright when you’re with me
And I hold my favorite thing
I hold the love that you bring
But it feels like I’ve opened my eyes again
And the colors are golden and bright again
There’s a song in my heart, I feel like I belong
It’s a better place since you came along
It’s a better place since you came along
I see the whole world in your eyes
It’s like I’ve known you all my life
We just feel so right
So I pour my heart into your hands
It’s like you really understand
You love the way I am
And I hold my favorite thing
I hold the happiness you bring
But it feels like I’ve opened my eyes again
And the colors are golden and bright again
And the sun paints the skies and the wind sings our song
It’s a better place since you came along
It’s a better place since you came along
Now I’m alright, now I’m alright
Everything’s alright
Cause it feels like I’ve opened my eyes again
And the colors are golden and bright again
There’s a song in my heart, I feel like I belong
It’s a better place since you came along
It’s a better place since you came along
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