The word is so used and misused, trivialized, commercialized in our world. How do we sort out "God is love" from "I love pasta" or "I love my gun." Part of the issue is that we use that one word instead of a variety of words more appropriate to things we are trying to express. I like Sheryl Paul's article, 96 Words for Love: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sheryl-paul/96-words-for-love_b_1644658.html As she notes, Sanskrit has 96 words for love; ancient Persian has 80, Greek three, and English only one.
Limited as we are by the word, I have been amazed by the expanding experience of love in my community life during the past year. It has been in the crucible of change within my church congregation community. After several years of moving slowly in that direction, the public declaration was made that we are as a community fully inclusive, particularly of the LGBTQ community, including full membership and access to all leadership positions, sacraments, and marriage.
Many members who could not embrace that left. New people came - people in that specific community and people who choose to be part of a group that is open and affirming. A new community has been forming and growing ever since. It embodies LOVE.
NOT the "love the sinner, hate the sin" variety, but a true embracing of other human beings, created in the image of God and beloved of God. We hear each other's stories, suffer in each others' pain, and together heal the wounds that dogma and hatred based on interpretations of Scripture and tradition have inflicted. And what we learn is that we are all the same in so many ways. We can celebrate that sameness AND our uniquenesses.
I have been delighted to experience love flowing through me in ways that I had been oblivious to before. As I greet, hug, listen to and share, the response is precious and overwhelming. Is it really this easy? It can be if we allow the love that has created us to flow through our limited beings. And it transforms. I have never felt so confident in my ability to give to others in my very being, nor so blessed by the love that comes to me.
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