Loving Impossibly

Love is patient, 

love is kind.

It does not envy, 

it does not boast, 

it is not proud.

It does not dishonour 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 in truth.

It always protect, 

always trusts, 

always hopes, 

always perseveres.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Going with a classic this morning, to mark 'the' Day.

Except it bears mentioning that, even though these words are widely used at weddings, it wasn't originally set in that context.

Go with me on this, because it helps affirm the 'beyond couples' thing I feel needs emphasizing every Valentine's.  

Paul is writing to the church in Corinth about a number of challenges they were facing as a congregation.  One of them was how snippety and superior some folks were getting based on the gifts and abilities the Spirit had given them to serve one another.  It seems to have turned into a competition of sorts, with egos pressing forward to be stroked.  Power struggles ensued.  A whole lot of insecurities seemed to be in play, with people more concerned about status and credibility and power than anything else.

But hey, Paul says, it's not about that.  Love is the more important thing.  And love is not like that.  Instead, it's like this...

And he describes the love that should be driving everything about how we live, and how we serve one another.

Of course, as beautiful and poetic and, yes, wedding-like this text is, it's also quite the daunting list. It might make us decide it's too unrealistic so we could give ourselves a pass.  Human relationships are complex.  Living in community is just hard.  Love actually hurts sometimes so...

Except, on the other hand, we all know people who do love like this.  We've seen it in friendships and marriages and teams and communities of faith who do indeed seem to have taken Paul seriously, and have let love be the first thing.  Sometimes against impossible circumstances.  

So this Valentine's Day, can I just say something to anyone who is loving impossibly?  All the friends and spouses and congregations who love like this? 

You are truly beautiful and brilliant in ways that show us God. 

Beautiful and brilliant.

Far, far beyond hearts and roses.

May God grant you the grace to keep showing us the way.