1 Corinthians 13:1-8 New King James Version (NKJV)
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
Without true love, your beautiful words fall flat and insincere. Reaching only the soulish ear but never reaching the spirits heart.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
Without true love, your powers will become limited as they will be self serving alone. I know assholes with great power that couldn't move a soul but are content to impress their limited abilities.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Without true love, your giving will extend as far as the hand of another that may change their circumstance but will never truly change their life. Your deeds will have their own reward because the receiver will be blessed but to you, they will but satiate an ego driven mind that seeks recognition for his works.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Now take some time and read that verse again. Ask yourself in all honesty...is that you? No, it's not me either but I'm still in training. Here we see the contrast between the character of a selfish soul and the character of love. If anyone says "I am jealous because I love you", they are in error as that is nothing but greed. Jealousy and greed are not in the character of love but are human traits as these are possessive reactions. Possessiveness is not in the character of love but is a human trait that extends only to itself. To use the term "she is mine" must be accompanied by it's counter "as I am hers" if it is to remain within the character of love. Otherwise, it is akin to one owning another and that is not love. To surrender is to love but if it is not reciprocated, take back your surrender. If you don't, you will suffer a disillusionment that will have you believing love is flawed. You will justifiably say you gave love out and it did not return. Something that had nothing to do with the purity of your love but instead had everything to do with the selfishness of the one you chose to share it with. Always keep this in mind when you see the failures of your mate materialize. Love did not fail...even if they did.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
This is why I believe that love is a separate entity that unifies. We can leave, never to return but if the love was true, it will always remain as the intercessor between all the parties involved. Which is why we can love without the standards of relationship. Why can still care even when we know there can be no contact or union. Those that do not understand this are identified by their need to always return to the individual they knew was bad for them. They define their return as a gesture of love when it is more akin to one who is afraid to venture outside their comfort zone. They find comfort in the familiar...even if it was toxic. If they had a motto, it would be "better to deal with the devil you know, than the devil you don't" and that is dangerous to say the least. They are either afraid of the unknown or honestly believe that can do no better. Folks...love is love and it is the very best any human can hope to acquire on this earth beyond riches, fame or possession. Many risk life and limb to gain status and wealth only to find a comfortable life that is empty without love. If they can do all that for so little, how could I not risk even more for true love...but that's just me. You have to find what is worthy to risk your own heart for. I can't tell you what to think or how to feel. I can only share what I have come to understand from my own experiences. Receive it or not, as of this writing, I have shared what was heavy on my heart to share.
Now some of you may not subscribe to Biblical teachings but truth is truth and this truth is universal in most religions that speak on love. As I read this, I tried in earnest to apply it and failed most times until I realized that the standard spoken in this chapter must come from the place of sincerity which had me practicing the art of perception change. To change one's heart is to see a thing from a different vantage point. Not interpreted by another but instead to see as you do albeit from a different point in the room. Seeing more, not less, will bring a heartfelt change as opposed to a simple change of mind that can easily be reverted. I can tell you all about "Bob" but you won't truly know him until you meet him for yourself.
There is one more thing I must add here before I close on this. In this age there are many broken souls that cannot easily show love. Their love is tempered by pain, loss and abuse. They develop a defense mechanism that leaves them cold at times unwilling to brave the pains of love again. Learn to differentiate between them and those that are simply being selfish but do not use your heart to do so. Instead use all evidence provided to make your deductions intellectually. If you use your heart, chances are you will be making excuses to keep around an asshole you have developed feelings for. In these cases, use deduction as opposed to assumption. This will mean the difference between giving out love where it will do good and throwing it away.
To summarize this piece correctly. All must begin with love as the motivating intent if it is to mean anything worthwhile in fullness. Without true love, our words will reach the inner ear as opposed to the outer. Our power will seek to serve ourselves as opposed to all and our giving will satiate the ego as opposed to the heart. This my loves is the utopian society made manifest. Something that this age will never allow but maybe, as individuals..we can come close. I'm out...
~Moses
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