What Love Is This?

February. Hearts, cupids, and valentines come to mind. The month known as the month of love. Ah, love.


But what is love? What does love look like in action? How does it come alive? Truly......

"The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God."

Leviticus 19:34

Is it butterflies in the stomach, ballroom dances, batting eyelashes, and beating hearts intertwined? Is is caring cards, caressing cupids, sugary sweeties, and fragrant flowers? Is it diamonds or pearls wrapped in ribbons tied in pretty bows?

Or is it an aching heart that longs for unconditional acceptance, approval and affirmation. A heart that is reaching out to others wantingly waiting to give love and to be loved in return just because.... Because of the beauty that lies waiting there. In relationship. In closeness and emotional intimacy. A spiritual, not of this world, connection.

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:5

A heart not aching for what is expected or received but for what beauty a union in sacrifice can bring.  Sacrificing wants, hopes, dreams for the sake of another's wants, hopes, and dreams. Sacrificing alone for togetherness. Sacrificing taking for giving. Sacrificing 'me' for 'you' or 'us.'

Love is the grace that abounds in the midst of mistakes. The forgiveness that follows grace and flows like a babbling brook meandering endlessly and noisily so that none can mistake its journey of restoration and rest. The transparency that comes from knowing revelation of the depths of the soul, the light and the dark, and transmitting and accepting love all the while. Sacrificing time and energy spent elsewhere on something else to give the gift of time to someone who is feeling lost, in the midst of losing, in the thick of needing. The unconditional that runs too deep for words. The love that leaves you speechless.

Being a shoulder, the hands and feet, the heart that helps the healing begin. A tool, a vehicle of love carried and conveyed without out boundaries and borders. Without conditions. Giving without being asked. Extending without expecting.

The sacrifice of self, of wants and desires, in the face of uncertainty. Letting go of agenda to empathize, trying to understand rather than imposing feelings of being misunderstood. Doing what is painful, difficult even when it seems undeserved. Without walls built and gates closed. The only guard posted is protecting love outpoured. Doing the right thing even when it hurts.  Even when it feels wrong. Even when it is undeserved.

The giving rather than the getting. The loving rather than losing. The surrender rather than saving. The sacrifice rather than the selfishness.  The pride swallowed.

"He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8

The beauty. Hearts that collide in seeking to become one flesh in relationship. Enraptured with grace, forgiveness, sacrifice, giving, yielding and the peace and beauty that comes from the overcoming of loving in this way.

True love is not of this world. Not of the flesh but born of the Spirit.

It is rest for the weary, water for the thirsty, food for the soul.

Love. This is love. It is pure. It is simple. It is sacrifice of self unconditionally.

Our gracious God gives it to us freely and unashamedly.  He gives it to us in abundance so we can freely give it to others. No matter what the circumstance.

Sacrifice. Of self. For others and for Him.

"Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;..." Deuteronomy 7:9

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven... "

Matthew 5:43-45

Rest. In His arms. Let others rest in yours.

"And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live."

Deuteronomy 30:6

Freedom. To love unconditional as He does with us. No agenda. No self. No shame.

"The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

Perfect Love.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another." John 13:34

The Humbled and Exalted Christ.

 "Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,  fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."

 "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,  and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Philippians 2:1-11 

Amazing Love.

Born of Spirit rather than flesh.

Accept no other.

Know it well.

 Give it freely.

CLUSTERS

The words ‘community’, ‘clusters’, and ‘huddle’ have been running through my thoughts as of late. You  may be thinking because it is Fall. My mind must be filled with visions of grapes on a vine, football, or family gathered around a Thanksgiving table. Or maybe I'm craving chocolate-covered peanut clusters. In part, you are right; however, I was thinking more along the lines of butterflies!

My family usually makes a trek to the Central Coast of California at least once every couple of years. Truly, it is my favorite place to visit in California with the June Lake/Mono Lake area running a close second place. For me, it is like stepping out of the world—a slower pace, more open space, a more clear vision of Him and His creation—to regain focus on what is truly important. A breathe of fresh air literally and spiritually.

Amtrak Coast Starlight

Moro Rock

Hearst Castle

Avila Beach

There is a very special place in that coastal area in Pismo Beach where the Monarch butterflies migrate every winter.  They spend the warmer months up in Canada and parts of the northern states but find wintering in the warmer climates of Southern California and Mexico much nicer.  Much like the migration of geese or ‘snowbirds’ as we affectionately call migrating/vacationing seniors.  The butterflies, however, have a beautiful aspect added to their migration habits.  They love to cling together in clusters on eucalyptus trees in October and November!

A Monarch Butterfly

Our trip to Central Coast this year took us, once again to this familiar stomping ground. I never cease to be fascinated by these graceful creatures and their gathering together. They are huddled in beautiful clusters like grapes on a vine or crystals on a chandelier. I love their need for each other, their dependence upon each other, their sense of urgency in helping one another. They gather together in early morning and evening to keep warm until the air warms up enabling them to spread their wings and fly. Their clusters among the eucalyptus leaves keep them well camouflaged to protect them from predators. As the sun rises and the temperature warms, each butterfly will gradually spread its wings and fly to its next destination. Often, they will return to that same resting place each evening for a number of weeks until conditions warrant moving onward.

Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 1 Peter 5:2

Clusters of Monarch Butterflies

 A cluster. A community. Of caring. Of sharing. Of providing for one another. For protecting each other. So intimate, so beautiful and so necessary for survival. By God’s design.

This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other.  

1 Corinthians 12:29

We were made to cluster. We were made for community. Families, friends, churches, neighborhoods.  Yet, in our flesh, we want to ‘go it alone.’ We become exclusive rather inclusive—cliques, social circles, clubs—with standards, seen or unseen, that shut people out. We feel more comfortable with people who see things pretty much the way we do. We focus on differences rather than similarities or the wants of the few rather than needs of the many. We focus upon what divides us rather than what unites us. Not by God’s design.

 "When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,  idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,  envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21

Good things happen in huddles, clusters, and community. People form bonds, make plans, accomplish amazing things and share life experiences together, win or lose.

Just think how wonderful it would be if we were to cluster together, to reach out continually to one another, to share with one another, to care for one another!  To be inclusive. To truly be in this world but not of this world. Our emotional and spiritual tanks would be full rather than empty. What if we were to appreciate our differences, learn from them and grow together? Make friends rather than enemies. Agree to disagree without anger. We could shine our light upon others, bringing them into community to experience warmth, friendship, intimacy, transparency, love and security without feeling vulnerable. We could spread our wings and fly returning to our community to recharge our batteries and fly again. We would bless and be blessed. We would not be wanting. By His design.

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. Acts 2:42

So much more to learn (than science) from this delicate creature that God has created. So beautiful. So much like our Savior…. Let us reach out to others, as He did, to include rather than exclude, to embrace rather than disgrace, to accept rather than reject. He came and He died for us ALL!

If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. Matthew 5:46

And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. 1 John 3:23