The "L" Word

In a little over a month, I'm supposed to do a quick talk on love at a women's breakfast. Love. Me?

I mean, c'mon. I have to talk about love on VALENTINE'S DAY. Me. Me?? Umm, have you seen my life lately?

And anyway, isn't it all just a little bit overdone? Valentines-schmalentines. Even God's prescription for love in 1 Corinthians 13 is practically a cliche at this time of year.

Love.

BAH! Humbug.

How quickly I forget that love is so much more than chocolates and conversation hearts on February 14th. How quickly I forget that the living, breathing Scripture I just called "cliche" (Lord, please don't strike me down) is fleshed out EVERY DAY.

Today love walked, and talked and sat in my presence.

Love is the husband who looked at his wife of many years with a twinkle in his eye because he got to hold the hand of the most beautiful woman in the world.

Love is the Sunday School teacher who shows up every week to serve... and who doesn't want a break from teaching because the sacrifice of time is a joy, not a burden.

Love is the food collected by a "poor" church to meet the needs of the community, and love is the hands that sorted, stacked and bagged that food on a Saturday morning despite busy schedules.

Love is the pastor who bared his heart and heartache to his congregation in order to lead them to a better understanding of God and His scriptures.

Love is the mother crying silent tears for a child who has lost her way and the friend who took a moment from her own hurt to comfort someone else.

And more than anything, Love is the God who came as a man to breathe life into a lost world; who submitted Himself to the cross, who suffered unspeakable pain and who handed over His life as a ransom for our sins. Love is the crown of thorns, the rugged cross, the torn curtain and the empty tomb.

I have to talk about love. Me.

Indeed.