As I said in “What’s it all about?” I will try to post an Older Writing later in the week. I have decided to only lightly edit these, partly due to time constraints, but also to leave them as they were, unless I find my views have radically changed. This one is from Valentine’s 2003. I was in my twenties, unmarried, and wrote from a place of not having a ‘significant other’, and connecting that to how God loves us, no matter who is, or isn’t, in our lives to love us. I am surprised how well it fits nicely with the theme of the blog, more than 20 years later! This one is more overtly Christian–as I was writing to a small group of Christian folk at the time.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Beloved spoke:
“Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned. “ Song of Solomon 8:6-7 (NIV)
Valentine’s Day. A day for cards and flowers. A day for chocolates and romantic dinners. But for many, it will be a day that disappoints. For many today have no “special someone” to enliven their day. And some have a special someone–but he or she will not likely “come through” with much that is romantic. And so this day will slip away, with unfulfilled dreams, left for yet another Valentine’s Day…
I happen to fall into the “have no special someone” category. But here I bring you a Valentine’s Meditation. Why? Wouldn’t I be happier just putting this day far from my mind? Ah, but love is more than a feeling–far more, even, than a Hallmark card. Love is something you give, not something you get. Some years ago, I made a simple decision: Since I have no “special someone” to faun over today–I will give kindness and love to all I meet today. I will spread some love rather then bemoan its apparent absence in my life. I will give and not take.
Our culture has such a limited understanding of love, and the word slips from our mouths so easily: “I love that food…” I love this color..” I love so-and so…” Yet what do we mean?
Some years ago, when I was far younger and even more foolish, I recall an extended phone call with a young lady, who at last worked her way up to the real meaning of the call, to tell me: “..well, I just really wanted to say, I love you, Eric…” And having not heard those words yet in my life from a non-family member, I stammered back: “I love you, too…” But later, I thought, what does that mean? And of course, the “L” word was used frequently from that point on in our conversations, but I said those three words: “I love you” without much forethought. (Yeah, I was very young then.)
Yet despite the power of saying those words, the relationship eventually fizzled. (That tale is far longer than your cup of coffee will last, not to mention your patience.) For love is more than just those three words. It is more than lengthy long-distance phone calls, more than expensive rings, and endless trinkets that show one’s affections. Love is far deeper than all these things. Consider the familiar words of the Apostle Paul in the Christian Scriptures:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Cor 13:4-8 (NIV)
Do we practice these things? I must confess that the reason my young romance failed was due to a failure to practice those principles above. I wasn’t very humble–I quickly pointed out this young lady’s faults, and I was certainly self-seeking. I was far more interested in how good it made me feel to have her attention than in giving her my attention and affection. In other words, I focused on what I could get from her , not what I could give to her.
I am a little older, and just a bit wiser, today. I look at those words of Paul and say, “How romantic…” But then I say: “There’s no way I can do all those!” And I remember that just like everything else–I need God to teach me how to love. For God is love. Try my rewording of the Corinthians passage:
God is patient, God is kind. He does not envy, He does not boast, He is not proud. God is not rude, He is not self-seeking, He is not easily angered, He keeps no record of wrongs. God does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. God always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. God never fails.
Notice how pretty seamlessly His name can be substituted? Because He is love. And when I was stupid and rebellious, and “shook my fist up towards the sky and most of those who loved me”, (Russ Taff), He kept reaching out to me. When I drifted from my calling and tried to find fulfillment apart from Him, He gently whispered: “You do not belong here. Come home…” And to each of you who wander at times, His whisper is the same: “I love you, Son, I love you Daughter, come home…”
In my short life, I can truly say His love is overwhelming. In fact, I feel that our very existence is simply the physical manifestation of God’s love. For consider: Love must have an object. You can not simply love, you must love something. And so if God is love, He too must love something: And that is His creation, which includes us. The Cross on Calvary will always be His reminder of how much He loved us. Flowers will die. A dinner will be enjoyed, but your stomach will get empty again. Candles will burn out, and spouses will be forever imperfect.
But the Cross will remain, yet forever in the shadow of an empty tomb.
As you gaze out at this world, and if you’re feeling just a little lonely, know that you are not alone. God sees your hurts. He will heal them, in due time. He knows of the adolescent dreams that perhaps never happened–He knows of the “empty spots” in your heart that only He can fill.
Let Him fill those areas of your life. I am filling those empty spaces by giving back my time and talents. And so the “empty spaces” get a little smaller. Be blessed all, may you have a Happy Valentine’s Day. May you know that your first Valentine’s gift did not come in grade school, high school, or college, it came two thousand years ago on Calvary.
The King loves you all very much. Try to remember that today. Human love is but a reflection of the Divine love. Realize its limitations and accept it. Someday, you will be “wrapped inside love, as though you are wrapped in a warm blanket…” But that is to be found in another Land, that only seems far from here. It is, I believe, closer than the air you breathe…
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 54:10 (NIV)
-Eric, the Wordsmith
PB5-V1