A New Pandemic - “Love One Another”

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Echo Lake Expanse- Photo by Chantelle

 What if Love were the pandemic?  The very opposite of social distancing.  Long before Covid-19 we have become accustomed to social distancing:    racism, sexism, agism for starters.  We have biases and prejudices galore, reasons for which we keep our distance, emotionally, personally, politically, psychologically, financially even!  Often it is presumed:  it’s naïve to trust.  Dangerous to be open, vulnerable.  Indeed, there are a myriad of ways we guard personal boundaries and wear masks to keep distance from one another.  Love is not social distancing.  Jesus teaches preaches, indeed urges – commands! – love. “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”  (John 15:12, NIV)  That’s a pandemic in which we would all be safe, healthy, alive.

Real love is pandemic because real love is transitive.  A bit of grammar-geekery:  If I say I love my morning coffee (double espresso with a ploop of heavy cream), I’m telling you something about me.  I love early quiet mornings and flying kites.  Love, in these instances, is intransitive.  Now, I love my life’s companion, my wife.  I love my kids (busy adults with busy lives).  I am loved by God!  In a dynamic relationship love is realized through loyalty, trust, interaction, and – of course – affection!  Love, in these instances, is transitive.  It is mutual.  Love necessarily involves the blessing and building-up of the other.  Love is as much about the other as me.

When Jesus directs us as his friends, not as slaves (though I confess it sometimes feels that way) to love, Jesus wants us to infect the world with goodwill; spread the virus of koinonia (the Bible’s word for fellowship, community, building-up the social body).  Love is transitive.  Love does something, affects and infects the world by building up trust, loyalty to a greater good,  affectionate mindfulness of others – even those from whom, for whatever reason or cause, we would usually distance ourselves.

To connect, trust, to be truthful, generous, and even sacrificial – this is love.  Jesus says we are to be known by our love, by what happens around us for the good of others.

Today I hold in prayer all those whom I hope to swathe in a pandemic of love.

~~  Prepared by Tim, QHP Core Community ~~

Comments

  1. chantelleMay 20, 2020 at 1:26 PM

    This comment is entered on behalf of a friend of QHP.

    Love isn’t patient and kind and humble.
    LOVE IS MESSY
    AND HORRIBLE
    AND SELFISH
    AND BOLD
    It’s not finding your perfect half.
    It’s the trying and the reaching and the failing.
    Love is being willing to ruin your good painting
    …for the chance at a great one.
    (Ellie Chu, The Half of It)

    ReplyDelete

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