Love, love love love love
Hello Dearly Beloved,
“Love love love love love, love love love love love.” I had a dream, or was it a fantasy (perhaps it was a hallucination) that I was giving my acceptance speech for the Nobel Prize. As I stood before the august audience I gazed out at the world’s leaders and distinguished guests there, I began to speak my message to them and the world. Every word that came from my mouth was love, literally. With animated gesticulation, passion, humor and intensity I spoke “Love, love love love love. Love love love love love.” It was the most poignant and well received speeches ever given. Now that I have revealed my innermost dreams I hope it removes any doubts about who I am and what I stand for. Yes, it is a little bit crazy, I will admit it, but at least I stand for something.
At the beginning of this great autumn month of October when we celebrate the harvest of grapes for table, raisins and wine, many people turn their thoughts away from long hot days of summer and prepare for the holy and merry days of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and, yes, even Christmas. These are days of fun, food and family gatherings. These days provide for us 1001 ways to love. The big irony surrounding autumn this year, which is the season of abundance of harvest, is the dirge of the economy, political unrest in Washington (Europe and the world, too), and the high level of concern and anxiety people have. It hits especially close to home. It is precisely at times like these when the message of love, my message of love, is so important.
I am not just referring to talking about it, but doing it. I rejoice at having the moniker of love but I would rather be known for the love I actually do. There are more opportunities to love at times like these than any other.
Loving is very simple. Perhaps that is the beauty of it. It is merely responding to the immediate need with whatever resources are at hand, whether that be an hour of service or a thousand bucks…from the heart.
Loving is very complex. Perhaps THIS is the beauty of it. These problems are systemic and profound and take the marriage of our collective ideas and resources…from the heart.
Either way, simple or complex, love is from the heart. The question is… What is in your heart and how will it translate to loving action at this time, this month, on these occasions, with your family, friends and world?
As a reminder, let me leave you with these powerful words. May they inspire, encourage, and empower you to be and to do everything that God wants for you in the world. “Love, love love love love. Love, love love love love.”
With Much Love, Bryan
