I really like being wrong when it comes to matters of faith. The moment when I discover my error is quite enjoyable, because it usually leads to an “ah-ha” moment and greater understanding of who God is. I much prefer being wrong to being confused or blissfully ignorant.
Last night Eric and I were on a date (following in my parent’s Friday night tradition!) and asking each other the question “At the end of your life, what do you want to be remembered for?”. My answer was that I want to be someone who loved others deeply, cared about them intensely in every interaction, and make a positive impression on the lives of everyone I meet. In short, I want to be a great lover of people.
Right after I finished saying this to Eric, I noticed that my answer had nothing to do with career-related accomplishments. In fact, I could actually pursue this goal while doing virtually any job in the world. Yet, if this is so, why do I spend so much time agonizing over my occupation? Why is most of my prayer life devoted to figuring out what I will “do” rather than how well I am loving?
Then, this morning my scripture for the day was 1 Corinthians 13. This passage talks about how love is greater than heavenly spiritual gifts, incredible knowledge, and mountain moving faith. It then goes on to describe this love as: patient, kind, content, humble, meek, considerate, self-less, not easily angered, not record keeping, hates evil & loves truth, protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres, never fails, and is the greatest of all things both earthly & heavenly. It describes love as “the most excellent way”, which is particularly interesting because I have been asking God to “show me the way I should go”.
It amazes me how Jesus is constantly flipping everything I think upside down. As I reflected on the high priority of love this morning, it dawned on me that learning to love our house community and seeking reconciliation is the higher calling than my job. Yet, at times I have wanted to move out because tension was keeping me from doing my job to the best of my ability (among other things). It makes sense to me why the Lord has prevented us from separating from one another. He is most concerned with me learning how to love. Strangely enough, since we came to the decision to recommit to one another and stay together there has been more communion and fellowship in the house than ever before. It looks like we are all enrolled in the Lord’s school of crazy, endless love.
It also occurs to me that the Lord calls us to love like this because He first loved us this way. Anyone who could invent this radical love must in themselves possess it. It’s pretty nice to think about God loving me (and you) like this. What an audacious way to deal with humans. What a glorious God.
