Love Wins

I'm sure you have heard how the continuous crashing of water on shoreline rocks will eventually wear the rocks down.  Every time the waves come rushing in it looks as though the rocks vanquish the oncoming tides as they are repelled in dramatic fashion.  But looks can be deceiving.  Imperceptably, the rocks diminish ever-so-slightly and what looks like loss, eventually turns out to be winning after all.

Love is like that.  It can seem that when you face the horrors of this world, simply offering love to someone who is broken, hurt, angry, full of rage, despair and contempt can seem a waste of time because it looks as though nothing is being accomplished.  Those who have been abused and beaten by people, choices and world systems seem to be beyond any real impact that love could have.

A few days ago I rode on a bus called love lives here and we travelled down 20th street in Saskatoon.  We would drive a bit and then just park on the side of the street and wait.  People who live in the area would come in and warm up, we would give them a cup of coffee, a sandwich and donut, and then just talk.  Often times we would pray with them too, and share some practical and spiritual love.

The name of the bus was appropriate because love really was there.  You could sense that Jesus was present and it was an amazing feeling to know, without a doubt, that what we were doing there was making a difference.  We may not have been able to change every circumstance in their lives, but we were giving to them something that has the power to shatter the rocks of their hearts--love does that.

I John 3:18 says "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."  I believe that very deeply in my heart:  actions are assoicated with truth, not just words.  When we were in that bus and showing love to the people that really needed it, I was absolutely certain that these actions were truth and love in motion.

Jesus, take our hearts and make them receptive to your love.  Break down the rock barriers that try to prevent your fullness resting in us.  And help us to understand that when we actually follow your example by loving other people, real change is happening in them and in us.

Your love wins.

BT