Love and Life…

The whisper of my breath… in and out – the rhythm of my heart… whether pounding, stabbing, cramping – it’s all so basic…
But the basics are not always simple – in fact often what seems so easy is actually very complex. There’s a lot of complicated interactions going on within our bodies – things we don’t have to consciously think about… our life support systems, our organs, even our cells run things pretty much on their own. It’s a beautiful thing – all of it orchestrated so smoothly – each process adding its own harmony with the others, creating a symphony we simply call life. We take it entirely for granted – unless one of the harmonies gets off… if more than one gets “out of step” with the others… then we really take notice. Whatever the cause, whatever the manifestation, it directly effects our lives – often in far reaching ways. What is purely physical, has emotional, mental, and social ramifications we’re never ready for…

No one likes to be reminded that this beautiful symphony of life is only temporary. At some point, every symphony comes to an end… whether it leaves you in breathless wonder and awe, or just relieved to have the sound stop… there is always an end. It takes a special person to be able to face that reality in the lives of others on a regular basis, without letting it turn your heart to some kind of stone – hardening it against the pain of such deep Truth. Perhaps this is why there appear to be two types of people in the medical field – those who are compassionate, who take an interest in people’s lives and sincerely want to help them, and those who are cold, hard-hearted… who don’t remember that their patients are actually other human beings in need of help. I guess if you see enough sick people, it’s easy to forget that no one chooses to have the harmonies of their life get out of tune or off beat.

There is a train of thought floating around “out there” that goes something like this… “There are people who don’t want to get better… or… There are people who’s identity is wrapped up in their illness, if they were to get well, they wouldn’t know what to do or who they are… so they sabotage themselves… they don’t really want to be healthy.” Or some other such nonsense. For the record… I’ve met A LOT of chronically ill people in my life… and I have yet to meet one who wasn’t trying to do everything in their power to be well – often spending every last cent they have, and plenty that they don’t have in search of a “cure”. They go out of their way to try every crazy cure-all, every vitamin or mineral, every prayer, EVERYTHING that anyone suggests – whether crook, family member, friend, or enemy. The fabled hypochondriac is just that – a fable – a fallacy created by others so that they no longer have to feel the pain of compassion. Afterall, if someone is choosing to be ill, then they don’t require help or care because they don’t really want it.

Pardon the sentiment… but that’s a bunch of bull.

The sick have been given to this world for the same reason as the poor… they are here to help us “work out our salvation with fear and trembling”. When then End of All Things comes, it will be those who have fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick and imprisoned… those who have lived lives of humility and love… who will know the complete union with the God of Love… for they have begun that union even now… in living lives of love. You cannot love if there is no one to show that love to… we require others in order to fulfill our calling in life. Following Christ means living a life of complete love… giving the reality of love flesh… and this life by definition requires other people to reveal that love to… or it isn’t real love, only the shadow of it… (which is actually self-love – a twisted, soul-sick thing).

Our God is an All-Consuming Fire, but the fire of His Love consumes only all that is not love. If our lives have been lived within that fire – tempered by that all-consuming flame – then we will begin to glow with it now (as iron glows in a fire)… and made strong in its heat, we will be able to endure the radiance of His Love in the Time to Come. Those who have not loved, will be consumed by the reality of this Fire of Love that cannot be quenched. We will not be able to bear it, if we have not born the burdens of others with them… if we haven’t already learned the language and power of this life-changing Love. How can we learn this life if we have no one to show love to? And true love is given to those who can give little or nothing in return… we do not love in order to receive love… that is not the Love of Christ.

Christ’s Love is a suffering love… it is compassionate – with passion (in the ancient sense) – it suffers with others, and so bears their burdens. I’ve said it before… Love hurts. It hurts to see people hungry, to see them in pain, to see them dying… When we love someone our hearts are laid bare for them. They will hurt us – whether by words, or deeds (or non-deeds) – by dying, or by suffering in front of us – by misunderstandings, or disagreements – by joys unshared, or expectations unmet… in some way we will be hurt. And that is when we can become more like Christ… it is then our life can live out the truth, “I must decrease, and He must increase.” Real love remembers the Truth beyond the pain… and it realizes the pain is an integral part of the joy. Love is the ultimate “bright-sadness” – as the times of the Fasts teach us…

So, how do we learn this love? We don’t… we live it. And we take the time to stop, to remember… we are to love everyone. Not just those who love us… We are to love the cold-hearted, the uncaring… we must remember that we need them. They are the ones who make us more and more like the One Who is Love.

“You have heard it 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; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48

You might not want to believe me… but this is not a metaphorical statement… This is really what Christ demands of those who would “take up their cross and follow Him”. It is not easy… the life of a Christian was never meant to be easy. That’s why it’s called The Way of the Cross. In His last long discourse with the disciples that fateful Passover night, when He was talking about union with Himself and union with the Father, He said, “These things I command you, that you love one another.” (John 15:17) That’s really the essence of abiding in Him. Living the depth of this reality of all-consuming love… A love that dies to self, and lives for Christ – seeing Him in every other person. For He is Life.

It’s very basic… but there’s nothing simple about it.

I’m still counting the ways He loves:

1221… thick fog wrapping the world in mystery

1222… a mouse in the wall… shall we call him Chewbacca? He sure does chew loud! :)

1223… hot soup on a cold afternoon

1224… seeing with excitement the gift for The Professor’s 14th birthday coming next week… it’s so hard to wait to give it to him!

1225… heart-racing, blood pressure low, laughing with my boys

1226… wrapped in my mother’s warm robe

1227… busy nurses

1228… the gift of being reminded to be humble

1229… golden evening light

1230… incense hovering low

1231… prayers for a dear, grieving heart

1232… pain and joy

1233… the sorrow of letting go – letting grow

1234… prayer that softens the heart in tears

1235… candle glow – Faith, Hope, Love, Peace

1236… candy canes

1237… The Philosopher wants cashews in his stocking… the only Christmas request so far :)

1238… The Professor wants oranges :)

1239… waiting for my MRI

1240… the coming birthday weekend :)

May we all continue to learn to love in living it — one moment at a time… then all of our lives will be prayer – Communion with the God of Love…

Lord, have mercy…