(no subject)
Karl has been gone for a few days now. I'm happy for him that he is getting to do some exciting things and is ready to begin his college experience. I miss my little brother though... We had a good summer.
I find that the concept of love has been the topic of many of my conversations over this summer (mostly with co-workers in the most unusual of settings). As such, I'm going to very briefly share a few of my notions on the matter. (Aren't you delighted?)
I do not believe that love is primarily a feeling. I believe it is a choice often accompanied by a variety of feelings. I believe you can love someone and not like them. I believe that love is conscious and often difficult. I do not subscribe to a sugar and spice and everything nice and frilly and comfortable sort of love. Are there moments such as these? To be certain. But if this is your entire conception of love, I pity you.
I am always amused when I see the Corinthians passage on love presented in a semi-euphoric, lace and script manner. I would encourage you to read through that passage. When's the last time you've had to exercize such an ultimate form of self-denial and, in that moment, have it feel like ribbons fluttering in the air?
Please don't misunderstand me. I'm not suggesting that love is devoid of warmth and feeling for me. There are certainly moments of elation. I am suggesting, however, that love is far more "dirt under the fingernails" than people like to imagine.
Furthermore, I am far happier knowing that, in many ways, this is how the God of the Bible loves me. I believe that God always loves me, but he doesn't always like many of the things I do and is often displeased. Displeasure does not restrict his love. I am delighted to know that God loves me with a love that is deliberate and conscious - not blown about by the changing winds of feeling and emotion. I am assured in that God chooses to love me.
Forgive me for the fragmented nature of this post. I've weathered multiple distractions in the midst of writing this. My apologies if I've sacrificed cogency for expediency.
Hope you have a good one...
I find that the concept of love has been the topic of many of my conversations over this summer (mostly with co-workers in the most unusual of settings). As such, I'm going to very briefly share a few of my notions on the matter. (Aren't you delighted?)
I do not believe that love is primarily a feeling. I believe it is a choice often accompanied by a variety of feelings. I believe you can love someone and not like them. I believe that love is conscious and often difficult. I do not subscribe to a sugar and spice and everything nice and frilly and comfortable sort of love. Are there moments such as these? To be certain. But if this is your entire conception of love, I pity you.
I am always amused when I see the Corinthians passage on love presented in a semi-euphoric, lace and script manner. I would encourage you to read through that passage. When's the last time you've had to exercize such an ultimate form of self-denial and, in that moment, have it feel like ribbons fluttering in the air?
Please don't misunderstand me. I'm not suggesting that love is devoid of warmth and feeling for me. There are certainly moments of elation. I am suggesting, however, that love is far more "dirt under the fingernails" than people like to imagine.
Furthermore, I am far happier knowing that, in many ways, this is how the God of the Bible loves me. I believe that God always loves me, but he doesn't always like many of the things I do and is often displeased. Displeasure does not restrict his love. I am delighted to know that God loves me with a love that is deliberate and conscious - not blown about by the changing winds of feeling and emotion. I am assured in that God chooses to love me.
Forgive me for the fragmented nature of this post. I've weathered multiple distractions in the midst of writing this. My apologies if I've sacrificed cogency for expediency.
Hope you have a good one...