How to Love

For the last few weeks, I've been thinking about what it means to truly love. In Luke's Gospel, Jesus is confronted by a scholar with the question, "What do I have to do to have eternal life?" After Jesus turns the question back on him, the scholar references the Great Commandment: love God, love others. Then he follows with the question, "But who do I have to love?" In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus essentially says, "You're asking the wrong question. I'll answer the right one. Love others by observing and meeting needs."

For the last couple years, my wife and I have been trying to teach Kaden how to love. We often show an example, then say, "Now that's a good way to show love." Any time we catch him doing something that fits the bill, we remind him, "That's a great way to show love, Kaden!"

Last night Kaden found me lying in bed way before bed time. When he found out that I was sick, he sat there thinking for a minute, then he said, "Daddy, what is your favorite animal?" I told him, "Probably dogs." He said, "No! I'm talking about MY animals. Real animals." The giraffe. And the zebra. And the lizard. He walked out of the room and returned a minute later with the stuffed animals of my choice for me to snuggle with while I rested. After taking care to place them all around me, he began heading back out of the room, but then he stopped. "Daddy, remember not to cough on them so when I take them back tonight I won't get sick, okay?"

Last night Kaden showed me how to love. Daddy is proud! I have the best 3-year-old in the world!

Hunger Games Thoughts

As I watched the movie, I was most disturbed not by the violence, but by the grotesques who lived in the Capitol. To them, the events taking place were nothing more than a game, mere amusement, entertainment. They were so concerned with putting on a good show, so as to create the best possible story line, that they were completely unaware of what was really happening. Children were dying. Loved ones mourning. Their lack of compassion and awareness was disgusting. It's like they were numb to reality.

Then I began thinking....

How often do we as Christians concern ourselves more with saying "the right thing" or putting on a good Christian show, all the while going along completely unaware of the reality and the depth of the pain of those hurting around us? How often do we settle for throwing out a cliche Bible verse instead of truly entering into a sufferer's pain? "You know, all things work together for good. God has a plan for your life." I'm not questioning the truth and the power of the Scripture referenced. I'm questioning my heart and your heart as we treat others' sufferings as if it weren't real. As if it were a game. Maybe it's time to look in the mirror and recognize the grotesque looking back, hiding behind the make-up.