Love is not a simple thing

It's been hitting hard at me the past couple of days. It's been floating about my mind while in class, when I probably should be paying attention, especially to the history of the french horn. When you look around, you probably see people. I see them too. But I see more than that. Lots of times I see hurt, and pain masked by smiles and attitudes. And it breaks my heart. Ever cry for a person because you just hurt for them inside?

In our society, we use the phrase 'I love...' an awful lot. I'm aware that there are different kinds of love, but the most difficult and the most rewarding is the agape love. The kind that defies everything else. It's loving people where they're at, not judging or condoning. Being understanding and accepting to the greatest extent that we can. It's about loving regardless. And so many times, there are so many reasons to regard and protect he love that we are capable of giving away. A person may be too annoying, too different from you. Or they may not even like you at all. But so what? They are just as much of a person as I am, and as you are.

It's really hard. To Love as Christ. But it comes in baby steps. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of days when I wake up on the wrong side of the bed, and the day is destined to be miserable. But that would be a choice of mine. I choose this path I walk. My attitude, my trust, and my ability to love are what is going to make it a difficult journey or not.

The start of something new...

Consider this monumental. Like taking the first notes on a fresh sheet of paper, cracking open a journal for the first time, or taking the first spoonful out of a jar of peanut butter. This is a first.

Like a ripple on a sheet of water, like squeezing out paint from the container. You know that white cap is never going to be white again... at least, when I squeeze it. Life is full on monumental moments. We pretty much encounter them everyday. Often times, I think that we see most days as ho-hum with nothing extravagant happening, when really, extravagant things are happening all around us, and nearly every moment. Its about training the eye, and training the heart...something that I'm working on.