Love.
That word we love to love and use oh so generously. “Oh my goodness, I love my new shoes!”, “I really loved that movie. Did you see the scene where she shot him in the leg?”, “I think I’ve met the man of my dreams. I love him so much”
Given that we use the word ‘love’ so much, one would think that this world should be an amazing place. We should all be walking the streets, hand in hand, with everyone happy and fulfilled, living out their dreams and fearing nothing. Maybe I’m being just a little dramatic but you get the idea… I hope.
Sadly, things aren’t all rosy and chocolaty. Our world is ravaged by war, abuse and pain. Divorce has never been rifer and, if the stats are to be believed, a woman is more likely to be murdered by her spouse, lover or close male relative than by a total stranger. When you really think about it, that’s a really frightening thing: the person you open up to and are supposed to trust more than anyone else is also the one most likely to end your life. That just can’t be right, can it?
So, is this another doom-and-gloom piece about how things are getting worse? Definitely not. As much as there is sadness in the world, there are also beautiful things happening all around us. Some of them appear insignificant and yet they require us to have a certain disposition to truly appreciate them.
I’ve come across many definitions of love in my life. As it relates to human relationships, possibly one of the best definitions I’ve encountered is that love is simply “a genuine desire to see good happen to someone else”. Yet, never has mainstream culture promoted individualism and egocentric living as much as it does today. The predominant thinking is that if it doesn’t suit me or it inconveniences me too much, I’m out. The word ‘love’ has been watered down more than we realize and, no different from a group of kids who play with diamonds as if they’re marbles, we play with what we don’t understand.
What does love mean to you personally? Has love lost its true and pure meaning and are we all still looking for love? We want to hear your thoughts.
At 1Africa, we believe that the true starting point of understanding love starts with the humble realization that love is a spiritual force. Those who have truly loved in spite of themselves, will be honest and acknowledge love transcends sheer willpower.
We believe in the story of a love that led to an act of sacrifice unparalleled in all human history. It is a love that is not an end in itself but introduces whoever accepts it to a new way of living and a kingdom that operates by a completely different set of rules. If you would like to hear us share more with you, please click on the banner below this post.
May you know true love in your lifetime!