I Will...

Love unconditionally.

I think this is a term that many of us have little to no grasp on. The reason? Well, we're human, and nothing in the average human life is unconditional, especially in regards to how our world operates. You don't, generally, have a guaranteed job for as long as you want or need it, money fluctuates up and down, we lose our houses, people desert us, or we desert them. Families fall apart, true love seems so rare, apprehension and fear are more common than courage and excitement. In short, there are very few guarantees in our mortal life, and those things which are guaranteed, such as death, we are taught to avoid, and to fear. The runner up phobia to public speaking, is the fear of dying alone, or being totally and completely forgotten after death. For many, this is a definition of what their minds think of, every day. They focus on what they fear. They focus on running and staying ahead of the rest.

So what does it mean to love unconditionally? The common answer would be, to love someone no matter what. To love, in spite of all differences, in spite of all adversity- no matter what happens. This, is a beautiful and grand idea- but doesn't it seriously challenge our self preservation, me first, society? I say, oh yes! This completely challenges our 21st century way of life, and thank God for it, because this is a key principle that needs to change, and that change has been heavily set on my heart and mind by the hands of God.

I believe that unconditional love does not merely mean basic forgiveness, a smile and a handshake; in other words, saying, "Oh, I still love ya." because you feel as if this is what you are supposed to say, and moving on, when it is clear that the damage has been done in your person hood. You are speaking a lie- the love has been broken, and you have already made the resolution to keep your distance. While this makes sense, a lot of times, it is not what we are called to do. We are never called to be closed to anyone in our hearts. Unconditional, here means, having such a loving spirit, that there is no room in it for anything else, that there is no room there for bitterness, for pessimism or for a vengeful spirit. Unconditional love is not a love that you place on other people, nod and walk away from, feeling you have done a good service- unconditional love is a life change that has to take place within you. It is a process of self purification, of drawing in to God's heart, and letting go of your own. To love unconditionally is to love EVERYTHING the way God loves it, to see the way God sees, as much as we can, as mere mortals on this earth.

To love this way is not simply to tolerate, or to endure. It is to love as feverishly, and as passionately as you would as if no pain had ever touched you, no illness had ever befallen you, as if this was the very first moment of your life. And I believe the Lord wants us to live out of this love, this complete, trusting, faithful, unmoving love, in every aspect of our lives. That means, from the way we deal with the closest friend, to the stranger, from the way we view our roles in life, our work, even the way we treat our pets, or the way we view the less than pleasant things in our lives. No matter what happens, he wants us to get back up and not just stand, but jump, not just smile, but laugh- we are to embrace everything completely and joyously that he places on us, even if the process, or the price, is painful and upsetting. Make no mistake, this doesn't call for us to be naive, or life life blindly. In fact, it is the opposite- and I say this from deepest personal experience and perspective... when we live out of that power, out of that love, which is the Holy Spirit, we learn far more incredible things than when we run around shielding our eyes and our hearts from the "might be"s. This is the type of love that changes the world- just by being allowed to be present in ONE person. This is the kind of love that manifests peace, that makes people stop and take notice- that makes people believe in a God, in hope, in a life that is worth living, and a destiny, a mission, a world that is better and more beautiful than we ever imagined. This what makes a better life for our children, a better world for even the smallest of the small... where everyone matters. It is this love that makes a Mother Teresa- she was not born any different than you or I. She made the choice, she chased Christ and He, in turn, taught her to love this way. We can, and we should, love this way. We need to start today, and every day by saying, I WILL.

So how do we do it? We seek the cross. We crush our fears, and replace it with God's hope. We believe in what is seemingly impossible. We chase, and we chase, and we chase- and we believe in God's holy plan, in his superior intellect, in his incredible heart. We do all that we can to become it, to embrace it, the way a spark joins in to a fire. Believe in the importance of your participation in God's plan, believe that every second is given to YOU to make a difference for God, and that nothing is a waste of time, especially if God has called you to it. Accept the pain you will go through, and love it anyway. Accept that people will try to destroy you, will try to manipulate you, will try to defile you- and love them anyway. Know them. Speak to them, be with them- if God so wills it. Do not turn away from anyone. As Christians, we are a part of God's whole, so we must be willing to be his arm, or be his hand- always.

How much do we injure God? Think of the things you have done in your lifetime, that you are sure have made god weep, and have pierced him. Now, multiply that by a world. Multiply that. How many of his children has HE lost? How many have turned their back to Him, spit on Him, ridiculed and make a joke of Him? How many have done heartbreaking things, terrible, awful things to his other babes? If we are so sure that the things we have done have hurt Him deeply, imagine how he cries out during a genocide? A murder? Torture? Abuse? And yet- he does not give up on us, he does not betray us... in fact, He still passionately, unconditionally, totally and joyously adores us. He died for us, as a whole. He died for the murderers, and the ones who refused to know him, just as readily as He died for those who were closest to Him.

Our God knows our pain, from his seat in heaven, and from his body while on earth. We do not serve a God who is not willing to suffer with us, willing to cry when we cry- and not only is He willing, he does it. But He does not stop, and He does not cease.

Start today. Love courageously.