What’s Love Got to Do With It?
I admit, if you are familiar with the song and the movie, you might be surprised that I used this title. Although it won’t be sung at any worship service at my church, it doesn’t mean that the lyrics aren’t being lived out in someone’s life every day. The song sung by Tina Turner brought to light the reality that love isn’t always lovely.
February 14th is commonly set aside as the day we do special things for that special person. Spouses, significant others, friends, elementary school classmates, look forward to this day of acknowledgment. They know that they are seen and cared about. But there are countless other people who dread this day. Grief, loss, betrayal, loneliness over-shadow that positive feeling that commercials try to generate. Life is a delicate balance. The things that brings one person joy brings another disappointment. The lyrics say, “Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?” Love shouldn’t break us, but sometimes it feels like it does. Love can also heal a broken heart if we let it. What’s Love Got To Do With It? Everything.
Let’s use 2019 as the year to elevate LOVE to the Agape level: pure, selfless, unconditional. I acknowledge that there are different faith traditions and that some don’t believe at all. But I need to offer something from my faith tradition to explain my request. Taken from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, “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.
These verses aren’t just for weddings. It reminds us that we are capable and deserving of love every day. Are you looking for love that doesn’t depend on earthly emotions? Come join us in worship at Emmanuel UMC, 9am or 11:15am. Check us out on our webpage www.eumcbeltsville.com or Facebook www.facebook.com/groups/EUMCBeltsville/ . Until next time, I leave you with this:
L – Let the light of agape love shine on our relationships
O – Only when you know unconditional love, will you heal
V – Venture out, try new thing give yourself the love that you seek from others
E – Everyone deserves to be loved for who they are, not for whom others want them to be.
AMEN