I imagine loving people to be like catching a wave. I've never caught a wave. But whenever I imagine catching a wave it is inevitably followed by a disturbing mental image of me eating a face full of sand.
The thing about loving people is that you can't put the cart before the horse. You can't get so excited about the wave that you leave the surf board.
What, as Christians, are we called to do? Love God. Love others. Lately I've been putting the cart in front of the horse. I've abandoned my surf board. I have tasted a glorious mouthful of sand.
Loving people sounds so easy. It's easy until they are mean to you, take advantage of you, use your kind heart against you for their own gain, step on your rights, and hurt your feelings.
I was walking with my good friend and she said some words to me that rang very true. You cannot love with an agenda. You cannot love with an agenda. You cannot love with an agenda.
Go forth and make disciples. Here's a news flash. America has a pretty good idea what Christians believe. Because we yell it in their faces and tell them they can't be gay. You can't love with an agenda.
While lying on the beach, chewing on my mouthful of sand and contemplating my failures, I had a revelation. It's impossible to love others. "WTF God?" (Yes sometimes I cuss around God, He loves me anyway.) "How am I supposed to love people? A. They suck. B. I'm terrible at it. C. I suck!" And He whispers, "You're getting it backwards, Kid."
You see, I was right. It is impossible to love others. Oh sure you can love your friends. Most of the time. But not that asshole of an ex-boyfriend, or that child molester or that politician. You're getting it backwards, Kid.
You see, God is love. He IS love. He is the very definition, creator, all encompassing thing that is love. And you cannot love without Him. Any love you experience, came from straight from Him.
"Love me."
You see when you seek out God's love, you can truly love unconditionally. You can look at your Dad who walked out on you and see what God sees. And when you see what God sees, you love so much your heart breaks.
One more thing. Perfect love casts out fear. Fear is the opposite of love. But where love is, fear cannot exist.
I failed at this. And so take some advice from a salty, sticky kid with a mouthful of sand. Love God. Love God. Love God. And He will change hearts. Especially yours.
That's all.
