What Does Love Look Like?
When I picked up my eleven-year-old son from school Monday afternoon, October 2, 2017, I knew I had to tell him about what had happened the day before in Las Vegas. Since we live in Nashville, the home of country music, our city and, particularly, the music community were significantly impacted by the horrific event. In fact, I know people who were playing there that night. I gave my son the highlights, and then he turned on NPR, his favorite station. We listened to the top stories for about fifteen minutes as we sat in traffic, and he declared, “I can’t take anymore. All this talk about the shooting, the hurricanes and everything else…that’s enough,” and he turned off the radio.
Fast forward to 2021, we are living in a state of emergency with the pandemic and related events, such as last week’s shooting in Atlanta which killed 8 Asian-Americans. The Asian community is reeling from this recent tragedy. We must stop the madness and start the love.
What does love look like? Love looks like weeping with those who weep for their loved ones lost to senseless acts of violence. Love looks like standing in solidarity with our Asian brothers and sisters who feel afraid because of the recent hate crimes. Love looks like teaching our children how to accept people who look or think differently than we do.
A friend shared this statement with me yesterday: “Our diversity makes us unique; our unity makes us strong.” Love celebrates diversity and stands in unity. We are the human family.
During these days of unprecedented uncertainty, we must find ways to connect with people and enjoy the beauty of the present moment…a phone call with an aging parent, the smell of coffee in the morning, a song that moves the soul, a walk in a budding forest, a hug from a child.
Likewise, we must be intentional about creating a safe place for our kids. They deserve a childhood. The constant barrage of trauma is overwhelming. They need to laugh and play, sing and paint. It reminds me of one of the opening scenes of C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. The four Pevensie children, who are sent to the country during the war to live with an uncle they don’t know, play hide-and-go-seek in the expansive mansion. That’s what precipitates their adventures in Narnia and their encounter with Aslan.
Although we are living in desperate times, I have hope. What I continually hear on the news and see on my social feeds is the heartfelt cry, “We must be kinder to each other…we need to spread love.” It’s as if we are awakening from a stupor and realizing for the first time what is most important…”faith, hope and love…and the greatest of these is love”.
Together let’s practice these simple things:
1. Reach out to friends who are hurting. Let them know you care.
2. Celebrate beauty. Enjoy little things.
3. Play with children. Kids bring life into perspective.
4. Spread love. Your smile and kind words do make a difference for someone’s day.
Let us not grow weary of doing good, my friends.