L - Loss & Love

There is a lot of loss happening in our country, and beyond, right now.

It’s not the kind of loss that you can shrug off.

It’s not the kind of loss that is easy to forget.

It’s not the kind of loss that you can fix with a quick trip to the store.

No.

It’s the kind of loss that uproots your entire life and shakes you to your core.

It’s the kind of loss that is life changing and alters the way you view the world around you.

It’s the kind of loss we spend our whole lives fighting to avoid.

It’s the kind of loss that I can’t even fathom—the kind that brings me to tears by just thinking about it.

So how do we as human beings deal with such devastating loss? We rely on others. As Pastor Cheryl talked about a couple Sundays ago, love isn’t just a feeling, it’s an action. It is love in action that is healing the loss that is happening in our country and all over the world. We rely on the love and generosity of family, friends, and complete strangers. We work with one another to pick up the pieces of our shattered lives and put them back together, to try and get things back to the way they used to be. Although, after suffering such devastating losses—nature, belongings, houses, pets, loved ones—l don’t imagine that life, or people, would ever be the same.

My heart goes out to every single person affected by the multiple hurricanes in the South, the forest fires in the west, those who had tragic memories stirred up on 9/11, and anyone who is suffering a loss as a “normal” part of life.

The thing about love is that it gives you something to lose.

Love is both pure joy and deep agony.

But, it is also the glue that holds this world together.

Love is what makes life worth living.

Each and every one of us is deeply loved by God, and it’s because of God’s love for us that we are able to share our love with others. Every single person on this planet is capable of showing love, and that means that there is an endless supply of opportunities to share that love with the world and change someone’s life for the better. Turn your love into action and you very well could change someone’s life. Love is one of the most powerful forces in the world; it is power, and it is powerful. Share some of your love with the world today, and the world will already be a better place.

“We love because [God] first loved us.” –1 John 4:19

“Where there is love there is life.” –Mahatma Gandhi

“Love cures people—both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it.” –Karl A. Menninger