Not Just for Women

What is the meaning of love? According to the 1970's movie Love Story, love means never having to say you are sorry, surely this does not begin to define love.

What is Christian love? Some of our churches have signed agreement to permit all people to worship within. This is called tolerance, not love.

Tolerance in Chrstianity equals marginalization. By marginalization I refer to those who are different from the dominate or norm, outsiders. The marginalized are pushed from the mainstream to the borders of our community, local and global. Those among us who are  poor, disabled, female, gay, lesbian, transgendered, people of color, homeless, elderly, incarcerated, children, infirm, stigmatized by society, are marginalized, this is not love.

Ladies when your husband, boyfriend or significant other berates you, slaps you and it is followed by "I love you", it is not love. When you are left standing there for the first, second, third or fourth time, battered and you are presented with that 10 carat diamond ring, it is not love. When the parish priest or bishop crosses the line they know all too well, it is not love.

When Satan whispers in your ear and tells you to sell the drugs or turn that trick on the corner, it is not love and those who watch you march to your death will only salute you. In the words of Marita Golden from the play And do Remember Me, "Hold onto your good, your essence, until you find the people and situations that match it".

Sometimes we must take a long hard look at others and say I can do better!  This is recognition of the unlimited potential of the Spirit. The Spirit gives us the ability to grow beyond time, space and physical matter. You are not limited to what you have been taught, told or conditioned to believe about yourself.

When Satan sits on your shoulder, whispers in your ear and says, you are nothing, you will never be anything, following Christ is too hard, come follow me, love. Satan. Remember you are made in the image and likeness of God. God is not pain, God is not fear, God is not confusion or restriction. We convince ourselves we are where God wants us to be . If it is not a place of peace, love joy, harmony and oneness, it is not of God. God does not want us to be in pain. However, God will not interfere with the choices we make. God will not move us until we are ready to be moved, we are not rescued until we are ready to be rescued. When we understand who God really is and how that relates to whom we really are, then we will be able to choose a better way. When we surrender, God moves in mysterious ways, we never know how the Creator will show up or stand up. God is everything, everywhere, all the time. The truth is you were made to reflect the goodness, peace, power, joy, wholeness and yes ladies the loveliness of the Divine.

Love builds up, it does not tear down. Love honors God, love honors the temple of God that exist in each of us.

Being earthly people, still we expand on that definition of love, and we have a definiton against which to weigh every relationship, whether it be with God, others or ourselves.

When you are caught up in the moment, when you are pulling those flower petals and saying, he loves me, he loves me not" STOP, leave that flower alone. Remember the words of the apostle Paul to the people of Corinth.
"Love is patient and kind: it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill mannered or selfish or irritable; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth, love never gives up; and its faith, hope and patience never fail. Love is eternal.
(1 Corinthians. Ch 13).

May the Father,
guide us this day and always,
his love enfold us and his peace empower us;
in Jesus' Name.
Amen.

Abiah+, HH