Musings at Altitude

I was reminded today at church that we’ve been commanded to love.  In fact, the Bible is filled with specific direction for us to love.  And not just to love those who are lovable, because anyone can do that.  But instead, we’re to love those who are unlovable.

We’re commanded to love that person on the road who just cut us off.

We’re commanded to love that neighbor that lets their dog poop in our yard.

We’re commanded to love that person at the counter that can’t for the life of them get the order right.

We’re commanded to love that person at work that always has a negative comment and rarely adds value to the conversation.

We’re commanded to love that person on the street that stares us right in the eyes with a sign asking for money.

We’re commanded to love that guy on the other side of the battlefield who is trying as hard to end our lives as we are to end his.

We’re commanded to love that politician who is screaming at the top of his voice defending his obviously wrong views while we’re screaming at the top of ours telling them how wrong they are.

This love thing is hard.

Love requires acceptance.

Love requires empathy.

Love requires humility.

Love requires sympathy.

Love requires obedience.

1st Corinthians 13:4-8, 13

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Sounds like loving the unlovable to me.