Redefining LOVE: \ˈləv\

My heart beats steadily, involuntary, yet the mere thought of someone closest to me makes it speed up while a flicker of intensity beams from my eyes. It's love. I whip out my cell phone and press send, just to ask what they are doing. You see, it's not that I want anything; it's just an expression of love.

It seems that lately the word love is hurled around carelessly and as casually as a greeting, yet the feeling that is supposed to accompany the word is absent. Sure, love is a feeling. However, when the action portion of the word has gone idle, perhaps that love should be revisited. You see, I've lived 33 years and have learned what love is, but more importantly, I've learned what love is not. And, unfortunately, it is often those closest to us who allow years and time to extract the loving from the love we were designed to give. . .and receive.

Thinking on love, I realize that I have not always been the most lovable, yet there has always been a steady current of love flowing to my being. Despite what condition I may have been in, I've been fortunate to be loved. This love has healed my hurting heart, has helped me to see pass yesterday's pain into today's potential, and has given me inspiration in the midst of disparity. . .Yet the realization exists, that this same love that I am receiving, I must also reciprocate.

A selfish form of something that looks like love often masquerades itself in a shell of affection, but is usually based on an opportunity. An expected birthday gift, a graduation present, perhaps even something for Christmas. However, outside of that, there's little-to-no contact. No expressions of gratitude or appreciation, no random phone calls to say I love you. Many loves continue on in this bleak cycle, until death occurs. Then there's a huge flood-tide of expression that is most likely a smidgen too late...

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, 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. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.                      
                                  I Corinthians 13:4-8

So, if perhaps life has failed you, maybe you need to upholster your definition of love. Are you sowing that same degree of love into others that you speak? Or are you expecting others to honor obligations toward you while you do nothing? Again, not love. Do you feel slighted? Maybe it's time to increase the output of love you are putting out there--and more importantly--to people who are worthy of that love. When the day is done, the ACTION of love should cause the same internal jolt that word love does, and if it doesn't ... it probably isn't.

I love you.


Jason