Lent: Love

Love isn't found in the big gestures like a new car or remodeling in the house. There may be aspects of love found there, but those are mostly showmanship. Love is found in the small things.

Love is a homemade meal at the end of the day. It is a hug when you weren't expecting one.

Love is an unexpected phone call that says "I know that things have been rough and I wanted to see how you were doing." It's the signoff that says "Text me in the morning so I know you're OK."

When you're sick, it's love that puts its arm around you and stays at your side through all the unpleasantness. It's love that drops all its plans, comes to your side and does whatever you need it to do.

Love says "I forgive you" and "We'll get through this together."

Love doesn't look back. It looks ahead and sees a bright and beautiful future, full of possibility; and then it gives all that it has to bring that future into being, together.

Years ago, a group of explorers found a stone that was the cornerstone that all the world rested on. Filled with curiosity and wonder, they lifted it up. Love was what they found underneath.



Copyright © 2017 by David Learn. Used with permission.


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Advent: Love

Love is a mystery to me. It is longer-lasting and more durable than desire, and yet desire can overthrow it. It can be fiercely loyal between friends, and full of quarreling between sisters. It is as gentle as a father as he holds his child. and yet again it is terrible to behold in all its glory if someone ever dares to threaten that child.

Love can be reckless and throw caution to the wind, and it can be a lifeline. Love looks at our deepest shames and our blackest secrets without a word of reproach, without flinching and without judging. When morality makes us ashamed and pushes us away because we don't measure up, love draws closer and makes our shame its own.

Love never gives us the matches to burn the world down, but when we do, love will still be standing amid the ashes. On that day, all it will say is, "I'm here, and I love you," and hold us as we cry.


Copyright © 2016 by David Learn. Used with permission.


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1 Soccer

Paul, called to be an apostle of Soccer by the will of God. To the Nova Bastille Soccer Club, to those who love Soccer, together with all those everywhere who love the game. Grace and peace to you from God our coach.

I always thank God for you because of the talent God has given you. You have been enriched in every way, in all your dribbling and tackling and kicking. You do not lack any talent as we wait for the end of this great Soccer game we call life.

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, that all of you will agree with one another so that there will be no divisions among your team. Some have informed me there have been quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One says, "I want to win." Another says, "We should have fun." Another says, "I want to make great plays." And another says, "Everyone should get a chance to play."

Is the game divided? Should we have one team for the jocks and another for the clueless? I think not. But we should all play together in love and fun.

When I came to you, I came not as an expert in Soccer, but as someone who loved the game. I could not make spectacular saves. I did not make any amazing plays. But I came preaching joy, and fun, and love for the game. You are not ready for more complicated lessons, because you haven't even learned how to play as a team.

It is actually reported that one of your fullbacks made five goals in a row, running all the way down the field to sink the goal into the net. And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief? Your boasting is not good.

Now for the things you wrote to me about. It is good to use the broken-in soccer ball; but sometimes, since some of your members have trouble kicking that one as far, it is good to use the shiny new one. And play in Nova Bastille, but for those who live in Hoover Point, play there sometimes too.

Now about athletic gifts, I do not want you to be ignorant. To each is given talent for the good of the entire team. Some can pass well; others tackle. Some make leaping catches; others kick a great distance. Some play offense; some play defense. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and the Spirit gives them to each one just as the Spirit determines.

The team is a unit, though it is made up of many team members. The team is not made up of one member, but of many. If a fullback would say, "Because I don't get to shoot any goals, I am not part of the team," he does not cease to be part of the team. If a forward were to say, "Because I do not defend our goal, I am not part of the team," she would not for that reason cease to be part of the team. As it is, there are many members, but one team.

If I make amazing midair catches and keep the opposition from scoring a goal, but have not teamwork, I am worthless. If I can receive a pass when two fullbacks and a center are crowding me, and send that ball soaring into the goal right past the goalie, but I have not teamwork, I am nothing.

Teamwork is patient and kind, teamwork looks out for all members, teamwork is not self-glorifying but is willing to give up glory for the sake of another. Teamwork always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres, and teamwork always shares the ball with the weaker members.

I, Paul, write this with my own hand. If anyone does not love Soccer, a curse be on him or her. My love to all of you.

Amen.

Copyright © 2012 by David Learn. Used with permission.

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A more common way

And now I show you the most common way.

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, at least I am in good company.

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I still will be impressive and people will respect me for my authority on distracting irrelevancies.

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I still will have something to brag about to make others ashamed in comparison to me.

Love is impatient, love can be unspeakably cruel. It is jealous without provocation, it boasts of all the sacrifices it makes, it is proud.

It is rude, it is self-serving, it is easily driven to exasperation, it holds grudges and remembers wrongs committed years ago.

Love tries not to delight too much in the misfortune of others when they get what's coming to them, or at least not to show how much it's enjoying it.

It usually protects, often trusts, occasionally hopes, and perseveres about half the time.

Love fails much more often than we would like to admit.

Where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; and where there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

Now we see through a glass, darkly; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall fully know, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. Some day we will understand what love really is.

Copyright © 2008 by David Learn. Used with permission.

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