The Power of Love

I remember as a teen growing up with the song by Huey Lewis and the News entitled “The Power of Love”.  The power that love brings is more powerful than any other kind of love.  We can use the power of force, the power of hate, the power of fear, and the power of status to accomplish much in the world, but all the powers besides love come at a cost.

Love is what brings people together rather dividing people and tearing them apart.  Force, hate, fear, and status only allow certain people to get what they want while others lose in the process.  I often remind myself of Martin Luther King Jr.’s word, “Hat does not produce love.  Only love produces love.”  Love included getting to know another person, even if they are very different than yourself.  Love invites dialogue and respect of another before we place our assumptions and expectations upon them.  Love is honoring what God has created in the world.

Our world climate is one filled with all kinds of narratives that illicit fear, need of security, and even hate toward others.  We see it in our political climate, shootings in our country, and countries that are at constant odds with one another.  As people of faith we serve ourselves and God well by living into the footsteps of Jesus who laid out a path of discipleship that leads us directly through love if we are to follow.

The power of love is real.  Let us lean more deeply into love before we lean any other direction.

Grace and Peace,

Rev. Dr. Christopher Wilson