i had a brilliant talk with one of the most amazing people in the universe and we somehow began to talk about the power of unity (inadvertently), and what would happen if we all really sought the good of others to the fullest extent by promoting the connectedness that Christ encourages us to embrace.
as i was reading Colossians 3 through again, i was struck by this passage, as i have been every day for the last week. my thought has been such: when is the last time i first and foremost recognized that i am chosen one, who is both set apart and loved continually? do i walk around thinking that i am the crazy loved one of God, who he picked when choosing the world's dodgeball team? if i am loved that much and accepted so willingly, then what shall i do?
i should throw on some Jesus' swagg: compassion - the moving of the inner parts longing for the mercy of God to be connected to another constantly reaching out to those in need, kindness - the unconditional goodness to every person you meet always giving them the best, humility - regarding that person beside, in front, behind of you as being better than yourself, seeking to level yourself for their sake, meekness - the strength to be able to submit to one another in both tenderness and extension, and patience - knowing that you can always wait because a wait increases worth.
however, as grandiose all of these things, Paul exhorts that above all these, we should put on love. love, the ever elusive ideal. however, i have been viewing love differently these days. if God is love, then in order to put on love, i have to put on God. i think that maybe love is a bit of all of these things - or rather the interweaving of each of these characteristics. if we were to evaluate the love of God, i think that Jesus would be the par excellence of love. the words, the deeds, the extension, the wait (33 years approx.), he totally showed the way to weave these things into a commitment of utmost giving of oneself for another. earlier in Colossians, it speaks of this interweaving of all things because in Jesus all things consist or are held together.
i recall that Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends" (Jn. 15.13). i just felt like there Jesus was again, weaving what i have been learning about friends earlier this week into this passage of love and "garments" i should be wearing. as i know most of us don't feel that we could ever live to this greater love by dying for someone; however, i have two thoughts that have spoken to me as of late. if you cannot die for someone to show your love, what if you lived for them? what if instead of giving your life, you gave your time?
my question to myself is what am i giving up for the sake of others? am i willing to have my life decrease in order that he might increase and hopefully clothe me as a beloved, who is beloved-ing? i dunno, but i am going to put on love. however, i can.
- peaks out.
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