I-YOUniverse

3:30 a.m. classical music on my cable TV, at the moment a Chopin waltz I used to play. Now arthritis has pretty much wiped out my piano ability. I can still peck out a hymn, but it’s mechanical. On the bookcase just at my shoulder is my black cat, who spends much of her time in my lap. I trained her with kitty treats. So whenever I take pills, there she is with her fellow purr ball. They think they must have treats as I must have meds. It’s tylenol for me, and (hard hearted s.o.b. that I am) no treat for her.

Having completed Revelation, we’re beginning a new Bible study on Tuesday nights: Great Chapters of the Bible. We joined Revelation 21-22 with 1 Corinthians 15, the resurrection chapter. I was pleased with that. Our group has experienced a lot of death, and the study helped.

I’m pleased with Revelation. I learned some things. This is the fourth or fifth time I’ve taught it, mostly in self defense against end time nonsense in the Christian bookstores or pop culture, which confuses scatology for eschatology. Things I learned:

• that the purpose of the judgment series, as in the plagues of Egypt, is overcoming the idols of the world; and, warning and hardening hearts (confirming people in their choices). You notice that by comparing the summations at 6:15-17 and 9.20-21.
• the harmonies of heaven that break out repeatedly throughout the chaos of ch. 6-16.
• a good summary title for ch. 17-22 is tale of two cities, or the whore and the bride.

The first chapter in the new study is 1 Corinthians 13, a no brainer. But I’ve been wanting to write about the Love chapter, and find it impossible. This is Paul at his Holy Spirited best!

Our culture talks and sings much about love. We might spell it “luv” to distinguish culture’s kind of love from what Paul wrote about. 

• “I just luv that dress on you.”
• I luv the Beatles.
• I luv you, let’s ———-!
• What the world needs now is luv, sweet luv.

All this is feel good squishy stuff until the hangover of the morning after and all the bubbly has gone flat.

The love Paul writes about (and frequently fails to attain, like the rest of us) is God’s kind of love, good old agapé. You’ve heard the sermon about eros, philia, and agapé many times:

• eros, 100% taking, sexual love
• philia, 50% taking, 50% giving love, mutual (aka brotherly) love. Good marriages are NOT 50%-50%; they require 100% from both partners.
• agapé, 100% giving, Christ-like love.

Granted, that’s an oversimplification. Not all eros is bad. But that summary will do in a pinch.

Agapé is not humanly possible, because 100% giving love is soon depleted. But agapé is the fuel of a life of faith. As quickly as we burn up our supply, God replenishes it.

Without love, I’m nothing, Paul / Holy Spirit says.

Love is the motivation that the world cannot master (comprehend, overcome). Love never fails. Contrary to all other motivations, love abides.

The Christian vocation to which we all are called, whatever our circumstances, is love.

Like Truth, Peace, the Way, Life, for Christ followers Love is the Risen Christ, living breathing touching caring through us.

This is not so much a polished essay as a grab bag of reflections on love. What’s clear, looking in the mirror at an enigma, is that luv may feel good for a night, but love lasts forever.

A life built on agapé is truly worth living.