Let me begin by reading to you a favorite and familiar passage from 1 Corinthians chapter 13 (NIV):
"4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails."
And for a slightly different perspective, I'd like to share those same verses from not-so-literal translation, the Message:
"4Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, doesn't have a swelled head, 5Doesn't force itself on others, isn't always 'me first', doesn't fly off the handle, doesn't keep score of the sins of others, 6Doesn't revel when others grovel, takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, 7Puts up with anything, trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end. 8Love never dies."
So there you have it, straight from THE Source...that's what love looks like in a practical sort of way. Here's the problem (and this where it gets personal)... I am not always patient or kind; I can be prideful and rude and demanding; I've been known to 'fly off the handle', even at little things! And you can ask my kids about this one... I'm certainly not one who 'puts up with anything'.
In fact, knowing myself as well as I do (and that can be painful at times), I am almost certain that on this retreat there may be someone who gets on my nerves, or rubs me the wrong way, or just downright irritates me to no end (now time will tell if that someone is a youth or grown-up)! Or there may be a circumstance or situation that might make me prone to feeling hopeless or seeing the worst instead of the best. Lack of sleep and no heat or hot water comes to mind.
Don't worry, though, I'm really not that bad. I can actually do well at finding the humor in things most of the time, and I usually reserve my hissy fits, glaring looks, and ugly words for my immediate family (or occasionally the telemarketer who call very early on a Saturday morning or the person who pulls out in front of me when there is not a car for miles behind me...)
So how can 'I' do it? How can 'I' spend four days loving people I don't even know, who may make weird noises in their sleep and keep me up at night, or hog the bathroom mirror, or say or do something else that makes me want to roll my eyes and give them a sideways glance or breathe a heavy, disgusted sigh?
Consequently, it is in knowing my own weakness and imperfection when it comes to loving others that also makes me cling to my Source of strength... It is God loving through me! The ability to love when I don't feel like it or can't see any good reason why I should... that comes from the One who is love Himself! I can love, because He first loved me. I can show love to others, because His Spirit is within me.
Hebrews 10:24 says, "And let us spur one another on toward love and good deeds." Now, that 'spurring' part sounds a bit painful to me, (I'm thinking sharp pointed star on a cowboy boot) but my prayer for you and for me is that we will lift one another up and find ways to encourage one another to love... that we will be 'Jesus with skin on', that others will know we are His disciples by our love for each other... and not just on this weekend, but wherever and with whomever we find ourselves.
God is love. Tap into the Source!
So how did the weekend go? Did I love like Jesus? Well, sort of. I had one instance where 'the mom' in me surfaced by way of a stern look and a "get-your-fanny-moving-now!" kind of voice. However, this actually led to a somewhat meaningful lesson on the importance of inner beauty verses worrying too much about outward appearances. Then there was the girl who belched all the time... loudly and during meals. Really cute girl, but totally unattractive habit. I bit my tongue about that one. Then there was the adult who made a very public, sarcastic comment to the director who happens to be a close personal friend of mine. Yes, my hackles stood up, but I remained silent.
So the Holy Spirit was faithful, and by His grace I was able to maintain a smile and a spirit of generosity. Now that I am home, I wonder why I can't seem to do the same with my own precious girls. But that is a topic for another day...
"4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails."
And for a slightly different perspective, I'd like to share those same verses from not-so-literal translation, the Message:
"4Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, doesn't have a swelled head, 5Doesn't force itself on others, isn't always 'me first', doesn't fly off the handle, doesn't keep score of the sins of others, 6Doesn't revel when others grovel, takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, 7Puts up with anything, trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end. 8Love never dies."
So there you have it, straight from THE Source...that's what love looks like in a practical sort of way. Here's the problem (and this where it gets personal)... I am not always patient or kind; I can be prideful and rude and demanding; I've been known to 'fly off the handle', even at little things! And you can ask my kids about this one... I'm certainly not one who 'puts up with anything'.
In fact, knowing myself as well as I do (and that can be painful at times), I am almost certain that on this retreat there may be someone who gets on my nerves, or rubs me the wrong way, or just downright irritates me to no end (now time will tell if that someone is a youth or grown-up)! Or there may be a circumstance or situation that might make me prone to feeling hopeless or seeing the worst instead of the best. Lack of sleep and no heat or hot water comes to mind.
Don't worry, though, I'm really not that bad. I can actually do well at finding the humor in things most of the time, and I usually reserve my hissy fits, glaring looks, and ugly words for my immediate family (or occasionally the telemarketer who call very early on a Saturday morning or the person who pulls out in front of me when there is not a car for miles behind me...)
So how can 'I' do it? How can 'I' spend four days loving people I don't even know, who may make weird noises in their sleep and keep me up at night, or hog the bathroom mirror, or say or do something else that makes me want to roll my eyes and give them a sideways glance or breathe a heavy, disgusted sigh?
Consequently, it is in knowing my own weakness and imperfection when it comes to loving others that also makes me cling to my Source of strength... It is God loving through me! The ability to love when I don't feel like it or can't see any good reason why I should... that comes from the One who is love Himself! I can love, because He first loved me. I can show love to others, because His Spirit is within me.
Hebrews 10:24 says, "And let us spur one another on toward love and good deeds." Now, that 'spurring' part sounds a bit painful to me, (I'm thinking sharp pointed star on a cowboy boot) but my prayer for you and for me is that we will lift one another up and find ways to encourage one another to love... that we will be 'Jesus with skin on', that others will know we are His disciples by our love for each other... and not just on this weekend, but wherever and with whomever we find ourselves.
God is love. Tap into the Source!
So how did the weekend go? Did I love like Jesus? Well, sort of. I had one instance where 'the mom' in me surfaced by way of a stern look and a "get-your-fanny-moving-now!" kind of voice. However, this actually led to a somewhat meaningful lesson on the importance of inner beauty verses worrying too much about outward appearances. Then there was the girl who belched all the time... loudly and during meals. Really cute girl, but totally unattractive habit. I bit my tongue about that one. Then there was the adult who made a very public, sarcastic comment to the director who happens to be a close personal friend of mine. Yes, my hackles stood up, but I remained silent.
So the Holy Spirit was faithful, and by His grace I was able to maintain a smile and a spirit of generosity. Now that I am home, I wonder why I can't seem to do the same with my own precious girls. But that is a topic for another day...
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