Love

While photographing a wedding this past weekend, the officiant read 1 Corinthians 13, or the "love" chapter. I will admit, the thought crossed through my mind that this is so over done at weddings.

But, the words spoke more to me during that service than I ever remember in reading and hearing it at so many others before.

Part of it has to do with where Joel and I have been feeling the lack of "love" that church has for people in general, and part of it is probably coming off of reading the book, "Love Wins," by Rob Bell. Maybe I'll get into that another day.

I just loved the words of this chapter, and thought I would type it up today :) We aren't called to just love those who love us, who we have strong affections towards, or others who believe the same as we do. Jesus calls us to love. Period.

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

-1 Corinthians 13 (NIV)