The call of love flows from our humanity and from all that is. Love is an endless ocean, a never-ending forest, a mountain that keeps on rising and rising. Love is ready for us and waiting. But the status quo or much of the way that our world is set up tempts us to limit our love and our humanity. Many people, however, from many cultures throughout our world and throughout our history, have called to be revolutionaries, “You have heard it in many ways, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” It’s time to go make a splash and jump in, to think and climb, to play games and laugh, to trust and share, to forgive and serve, to work and win, and to dance, sing, and exchange stories.
Volunteers in Nashville, Tennessee work to provide water and other necessities for tornado victims, photographed May 6, 2010.
But what is Love? It’s far more than pleasant feelings concerning others. Love is a wondrous emerging reality grounded in practical and thoughtful actions that uplift and fortify our relationships with others.
Love shares food, clothing, shelter, … gifts, hugs, emails, face time, visits, … seeds, plants, skills, knowledge, services, esteem, … Love is a champion of justice and equity for all. Love demands equal access to needed goods, services, education, employment, fair pay, … Love’s priorities are those things which benefit everyone. Love would rather have poverty for oneself rather than accept injustice for others. Love generously shares and exchanges goods for everyone’s benefit. Love needs nothing more than what we already have. A few loaves and fish will be enough.
Love welcomes each person. Love is responsive, kind, attentive, understanding, and forgiving. Love strives to work out every miscommunication, every misunderstanding, and every hurt. Love reconciles and heals. Love looks out for everyone. Love does no harm, creates no violence, respects the safety needs of all, and does not return evil for evil. Love recognizes the gift, value, and role of each person, each being, and each thing. Love embraces the astonishing diversity of life, languages, cultures, and peoples, for their own sakes and for the richness that they offer us. Love esteems others recognizing their genius, goodness, and vitality. Love sees the inspiration present in others and present in their guiding visions. Love rejects no one and does not view anyone as being lesser or second class. Love would rather have the scorn from the “chosen” or the “in-group crowd” rather than participate in the rejection of anyone. Love connects everyone and everything. Love involves all of us together – trusting together, working together, sharing together, playing together, and celebrating the human family together.
Love is not short-sighted but rather looks toward the long-term benefit of all especially the needy. Love directs its works toward the present and coming generations. Love respects our common home, the Earth, and all its wonders. Love is patient, persevering in hope and in respect, even in disagreement and conflict, concentrating on much deeper agreements and common goals. Love is the person who I cannot stand. Love is humble. Love chooses trust over power and control. Love overturns the status quo beating swords into plowshares. Love is wholesome, constructive, creative, expressive, and empowering for all. Love answers needs.
Let’s dive in!
This is the second post of a series outlining where Umpteen Horizons is going. HUMANITY – OUR PATH TO VICTORY was the first post of this series. This post on love is the first of four posts on love. After love, this series will follow with other topics too.
Again I am very interested in your thoughts about all this. Also again, this will lead toward something very practical. So what do you think about love? What do you think about love as a call and as a revolution? Please make comments here or send me your thoughts at denton2100@gmail.com. Thanks much!
