Climbin' Mt Everest

Have you ever noticed that nothing impressive is ever easy?  I have.

Wanna know what impresses me?  People who have climbed Mt. Everest.  These people really blow my mind.  So not easy.  Sign me up to never try it.

Which brings me to my point.  Love just ain't easy.  We wanna think it is, don't we?  That's because we think of the easy kind.  Puppy dogs, newborn babies, and ice cream.   See, we use one word to mean so many different things.  Most other languages have separate words for each.  Take the Greek language, for example, in which much of the New Testament was written.  There's a separate word for each kind. 

Romantic Love? Eros.
That strong stuff between family members? Storge.
Generalized compassion for fellowman? Philia.

Ice Cream? That's not even considered love.  I'm sure there's a completely separate Greek word that means "I really enjoy eating that."   Love? No.  It's a dairy product, for cryin' out loud.
 
And then there's Agape.  Pure, selfless, and unconditional.  The most impressive, by any standard.  And by far the most difficult for us mortal types. 
1 Corinthians 13 gives its definition:
Patient. Kind.  No envy. Never boastful. Not arrogant or rude. Doesn't insist on its own way.  Not irritable nor resentful. Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things. Endures all things. 

Anyone else feel disqualified? 

See, here's the thing.  Love with an agenda disquaifies itself as love. 
Agendas are, by definition, selfish. 
Love, by definition, is not. 

One of my favorite quotes is by Ann Landers: "The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good." 

That's right.  The person most people reject or ignore for whatever reason.  How do you treat that  person?  Don't talk to me about the guy in the spotlight to whom everyone wants to chum up or the one with all the connections who could "put in a good word for you"...  No, those are easy.   Jesus says even the heathen can do that!  The beautiful, the talented, the popular....  Easy.  But what about when there's no agenda?  Nothing to gain?  The one with absolutely nothing to offer you.  Tell me about that  guy.  What has he seen in you, if you've even given him a moment to see anything at all? 

See, I don't anticipate God asking us to give an account of how many celebrities we befriended or how far "up the ladder" we climbed ourselves.  Despite all the glamour and attention our world gives that kind of thing, our God remains severely unimpressed.  I think it must be because that stuff's easy.

^"If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.  If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that."  Matthew 5:46-47

Open your eyes today.  See that guy?  The lonely one nobody has time to hear?  Follow Jesus over there to that guy.  Forsake the crowd, for once.  Dare to love that guy.  Out loud, even!  

Speak Up, Please

We live in a world that is LOUD, don't we?  So many distractions, so many things to do, so much competing for our attention.  Yet, when it comes to loving people, we tend to wanna keep quiet about it.  It's not that we don't love.  Think about it.  Just at the mention of it, many people you love came to mind.  Didn't they?  Now, ask yourself this question:  When was the last time I said or did something to or for these people that said "I love you?"  I mean, out loud. 

You probably think most of them already know it, and maybe they do.  But their world is loud, too.  It's not enough to know that you love and quietly ponder it.  That's like hoarding treasure.  A treasure that means nothing if hoarded.  It only has value when it's given.  Shared.  Spoken of.  That's when it comes alive!

Think of that list that came to your mind.  Which ones do you think need a drink from the refreshing fountain of knowing someone cares?  Find a way to let them know they came to your mind when love was mentioned.  Today.  Show them. Tell them.  Bless them.  Out Loud.