When Love Was Simple
When we were young, love was much simpler. Our world was small. There were only just a few people that made up the universe. These were the people upon whom we depended for everything we needed. All the necessities of life were woven into the fabric of this small communion. It may not always have been a parent, but we had someone who would see that we were fed, kept us clean, picked us up when we fell, and held us when we were scared. Our culture has come to define this as being ‘mothered’, it wasn’t exclusively accomplished by our mothers. One difficult summer in my life, when my father was hospitalized and my mother was by his side, it was my grandmother who filled this very important part of my life. While there are stories of notable exceptions to this rule, within the human experience the reality that most of us experienced was, in our earliest years, a world of love and care. Some may take for granted this work as an instinct rooted in the depth of our humanity. That it may be, but for followers of Christ, this is more than instinct or reflex…it is also at the core of our identity in Christ.
It Just Got More Complicated
As we got older, went to school, and ventured farther out into the world, love and relationships got increasingly complicated. We learned soon enough that not everyone we encounter in the world will have the same regard for our well-being as those we knew in our first, smaller world. In the friendly confines of our first world, we were taught how to respond to the conflicts and obstacles we encountered as we move into the larger world. Our growing experience of diversity reminds us that not everyone will see the world in the same way. We won’t always share a common view of solving problems, let alone what actually constitutes a problem. The key to navigating this minefield is not just the strength of our own convictions, but it must also include how we make space in our life for those with whom we might be in conflict. Understanding this wisdom today seems as critical as at any other moment in my lifetime.
Complex Love
In the 21st Century, the question has moved beyond how we love someone who thinks and acts differently. Truthfully, I long for those days. That seems so much simpler than what we face today. The question now is how do we behave in Christ-like ways toward the people who seem bent on actively tearing down everything we hold dear? Looking at the full scope of the Gospel witness, Jesus’ life sets the example for all those who would claim the title, Christian. Jesus gives every ounce of his time, attention and power to bring all of humanity into a community of mutuality with God in their midst. In this community, human distinctions of class, ethnicity, gender, and every other wall of human classification are broken down revealing the true commonality we share as beloved children of God. Embodying what this example means today is a call that challenges many of us in ways that we’ve never been challenged. Loving those who would tear down the very foundation of the community we’re trying to build seems to be a tall order. And yet, learning to do this Kindom work is precisely what we’re called to do. Join us in person or online for worship this Sunday as we explore this call more deeply.
