Love, in a word.

Last updated on: August 10, 2010 at 3:41 am by Sarah Moon

Love, in a word. 2010-08-10T03:41:58-05:00 Sarah Moon

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Today I was asked to define the word “love” in less than 25 words- to limit the definition of the single world’s greatest source of power, hope, and joy to just over two dozen words. I thought to myself, “Can such a thing be done? How does one even define love? In slightly more than 25 words, I can attempt to describe the concept, but, define? Do I dare try to do such a definition justice?”

I can describe how it looks – the sparkle in the eyes of every newlywed, the 90 year old couple at church who still hold hands under the hymn book, a mother holding her newborn baby, a friend who looks past failures, the missionary who leaves his home because of his passion for others. I can describe how it feels – a steady, inner peace when things seem hopeless, predictable bursts of overwhelming joy, an unexplainable desire to give. I can describe how it sounds, even – the embellishments in a Chopin nocturne, the power of a Beethoven symphony, the harmony in a Beach Boys song, the heart-felt words of all the “silly love songs” that “some people wanna fill the world with…(And what’s wrong with that?).”

But can love fit into a simple, 25 word definition? I would say that the answer is yes. In fact, 25 words are not needed. We only need one- “God.” God is love. Love is not something that God does, or something that God has, but it is something that He IS. Every time we show love to another, we are showing God. This is what makes love so magical. This is why the world has such a fascination with love- why we are constantly seeking and longing for it. We are empty without love because we are empty without God.

Uncategorized

god

Love

Previous Post

August 3, 2010

Things I have (un)learned since high school:

Next Post

September 6, 2010 Stuck...

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month June 2017 March 2017 November 2016 October 2016 July 2016 June 2016 March 2016 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who interpreted Peter's vision about clean and unclean animals?

Select your answer to see how you score.

God Barnabas Philip Paul