Nearly Forgotten

My aim is to describe to you something that has been nearly forgotten but has the power to revive the soul of individuals and even nations . . .

It lacks the glory of well deserved success and the allure of wealth and riches. Often overlooked for its better known cousins, love of country and fellowman, yet still relished for its homely decor and demeanor whenever it procures a homemade meal or a warm fire on a cold, winter’s night. It is the cup of water promised at an open doorstep or the jacket happily lent on a rainy day. It’s the extra mile traversed, though out of the way, the money gifted with out the strings and the help around the house when none is looking.

I have personally known a great many who carry this estimable virtue and still a few who excel to such an extraordinary degree. I understand that some would call me lucky or fortunate for this wonderful and all together subtle experience. But I prefer King David’s often repeated poetic utterance in the Psalms when describing my experience: blessed. For so long I was only partially aware of this blessing when recalling how a certain grandma showed interest in my brother and I whenever we visited her cabin. I can also remember some families and individuals from Bible College days who treated me with a ready openness and warmth that, at first was startling, but became familiar and enjoyable over time.

This most important form of love is rare today. It is meanly suppressed by the most apparent pressing matters of the moment. It is often forgotten in favor of hearty distractions or lofty goals. It is put away when discussions become difficult or cantankerous. It is recalled in sentiment at funerals, and joyfully hoped for on wedding days. Because it is inefficient by nature there are, by my estimation, no New York Time’s bestsellers applauding its divine and quant splendor.

The Bible often describes it as being diligent and steadfast. It has a plain but charming quality to it, far from being stone-faced-stubborn or demanding. It has rough hands from working in the good way as surely as Noah had when he built the ark. It is strong but not boastful, humble but not demeaning, consistent but not taxing, and cheerful but not overly. It is that which you embody daily for your household and for the house of God. You are intuitively known for this in your community. My aim is to make it apparent to you. Your efforts in this field of love are well deserving, for you are to be bolstered in encouragement and godly zeal.

What is the form of love that can revive souls and even nations? It is the form found at the end of Luke’s gospel when Jesus pays attention to the criminals on the cross and promises to one that “today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43, NLT). Or again we see this form of love on display in John 19:26-27 when Jesus tells Mary, “dear woman, here is your son”, and then to John, “here is your mother”. Mind you, Jesus is dying a torturous death, having been beaten, whipped, forced to carry his own means of destruction, and brutally nailed to the device through all four limbs. He’s stripped of his clothes, mocked in disbelief, abandoned by his friends, falsely accused, passed over in favor of a hardened criminal, and still must bare all sins of all people.

The form of love that Jesus embodies and expresses is attentive love. It may not sound like much but I assure you that it can revive the soul of an individual and that of a nation. Globally, people are obsessed with their thoughts and feelings to the determinant of their social and physical well-being. To be sincere means primarily to say and act on impulse, but it’s not until one reflects on their feelings and thoughts when sayings and actions can be discerned as good or productive or of value. Combine this with low attention spans and excessive amounts of stimulation from various forms of media and we are mostly left with sentiments of love that flit in and out of our lives with little staying power. But, if love is attentively expressed by individuals and for individuals, souls will be revived and so too nations.

Finally, I note all of this because I truly believe that you are attentively loving others as Christ has attentively loved you. Be encouraged in the knowledge that the love of Christ, as was displayed on the cross when He conversed with the criminals, is eternal. As it’s readily expressed in the mundane it has the special ability to revive the soul by bringing out the inherent value that God has created in every person. The person no longer assumes that they are of value because of external factors and opinions that are separate from the intended nature that God created. Through the experience of attentive love the soul becomes aware of heavenly forms of love and honor, and as more people are revived and renewed they become influential in their households, places of work, schools, churches, and even the nation.