Love's Discontent
by Tammy Nelson

"In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was
God." When these words were first recorded, the author was speaking about
Jesus. He was using an argument that the learned people of the day could
understand. And of course his meaning is still valid. But as I was reading
this passage again this week something else came to mind. 

"In the beginning was love." It was not content to remain as a word,
isolated, alone. In love's breath all creation took root. Love molded and
fashioned humanity in it's image and gave us the capacity to love in return.

Love was not content to remain a word, even when his chosen people betrayed
and fled him time after time. Even then Love acted. Patiently wooing them
back to himself. Protecting with his own hand those who had spurned him yet
again.

Love was not content to remain a word, some distant concept to discuss and
debate. Instead, love became human and walked in our midst. Pouring out
lavishly aspects of himself. Mercy, grace, affection, kindness, fellowship,
devotion, peace, belonging. Aspects that had before been words themselves
and elusive to truly understand.

Love was not content to remain a word, said with little thought on a good
day. Love knew we were destined for death and separation from him unless he
somehow intervened. 

We were not ready for love. We couldn't understand it. Not the way Love
tried to explain himself. So we killed love. But love understood so much
better than us. He accepted this because that was the only way he could save
us from ourselves. He took our place. We didn't ask for it, we didn't
deserve it, but he did it anyway.

Love was not content to remain a word. Stronger than death, love rose from
the grave. Our puny attempt was not enough to hold love back. 

Love was not content to remain a word. Despite our blindness, despite our
fear, he still seeks to make himself known. Not content to remain a word, he
constantly acts through the lives of those he has befriended, aka the church.
 
And when our love becomes action in the lives of a world that is hurting,
then people will be drawn to the love that we share and to the God that we
know. 

Love is not content to remain a word, so let us not be content in making it
so.

(Comments to Tammy at playfulspirit@gmail.com.)
San Leandro, CA
http://www.sanleandrocommunitychurchonline.com