You shall give freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give, because for this your God will bless you.
Deuteronomy 15:10
How do you love?
It’s a strange question, I know. But it’s an important one and a question that most people rarely ask themselves. Most people subconsciously believe that love is natural and easy, but that is the furthest thing from the truth. What’s natural and easy is selfishness and greed. Love is the opposite of that and love requires a lot of energy, care, and intention.
Over the past year as a chaplain and church planter, I’ve learned a lot of what it means to love. Much of it antithetical to what our culture teaches us about love, so I had to unlearn a lot in order to love better. Our culture teaches us that love happens quickly, but I’m learning that love moves slowly. Our culture teaches us that people “fall in love” like it’s some kind of accident, but I’m learning that love is always deliberate. Our culture teaches us to only love those who love you back, but I’m learning to love without expecting anything in return.
In learning how to love, I’m gradually learning how to live freely.
“Love has nothing to do with what you’re expecting to get, only with what you’re expecting to give, which is everything.”
– Katharine Hepburn
