Love Wins - Friday September 18th, 2020

 LOVE WINS - Friday, September 18, 2020

Happy Friday!!!

Let’s start with the definitive statement on LOVE - 1 Corinthians 13 (whole chapter).  I’m leaving the verse numbers in for later reference.

13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

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The next paragraph pretty much applies to all of us

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4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now, we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

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First, notice we are not talking about eros (sexual) love, or even phila (as in Philadelphia - brotherly love), but Agape love.

Wikipedia says this:

“Agape (Ancient Greek ἀγάπη, agapē) is a Greco-Christian term referring to love, "the highest form of love, charity" and "the love of God for man and of man for God".[...]  “The word is not to be confused with philia, brotherly love, or philautia, self-love, as it embraces a universal, unconditional love that transcends and persists regardless of circumstance. It goes beyond just the emotions to the extent of seeking the best for others.”

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I use the term “LOVE WINS”.  And, I mean it.  LOVE DOES WIN.  Verse 8 says “LOVE NEVER FAILS”.   

LOVE  is patient.  Hang in there!!!  Don’t give up the ship!!!  The ship is NOT SINKING - yes, COVID-19 is rocking the ship - the economy is having problems, I can’t HUG anybody currently - but I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!  

LOVE is kind.  If you can be anything - be kind!!!  

LOVE doesn’t have envy or jealousy.  Love doesn’t make comparisons or scream “I’m Number One”.  Love likes everybody to win!!!.  

LOVE doesn’t boast.  It is not self-seeking - but looking out for others.  

LOVE is not proud.  Love is not strutting around saying “look at me - I’m the complete package”.  

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Yes, I guess I am ‘preaching’ a little.  But, love is really a ‘state-of-mind’.  And, I remind myself of the computer adage “GIGO” - Garbage in, garbage out”.  I get to choose my attitude - and I am choosing LOVE.  

I can complain, or I can rejoice.  

“Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Sure, there is COVID, sure there are troubles in the world.  Guess what?  In 100 years, who will care?  But, can we make this a better place now?  Sure!!

I am remembering life seven months ago.  I would smile at everybody in the grocery store.  If I caught their eye, I would say “Hi” or something similar.  I hugged my friends!! Being a grouch is simply not a good way to live!!!  There is a term I’m not sure I’ve ever heard anyone use “Elan” - meaning “energy, style, and enthusiasm.” 

I like Ralph Waldo Emerson’s comment “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm”.  Likewise, from many years ago, Miller Beer advertisements said “Go for the Gusto”

Life is an adventure - to be enjoyed with LOVE!!!  Let’s do that!!!

LOVE WINS!!

Karen