Love
“When I was a child, it was clear to me that life was not worth living if we did not know love.”
bell hooks
bell hooks love trilogy
Love has been on my mind a lot more lately. The passing of bell hooks last week made me realize how much her writings were woven into the tapestry of my life. She was a poet, scholar, activist, womanist, professor, bearer of wisdom and spoke truth to power. I also call her a loveologist because her words, wisdom and writing helped and continues to shape my perception of love.
Sometimes when I don’t have the words, I am grateful for the words that my heart feels but can’t articulate. Today I share with the wisdom and words of bell hooks. One of the primary lessons is that love is intentional. Our love is lived out through our actions. It is based on how we love ourselves, each other and our community.
bell hooks reminds us that love means intentional investment of time and committment. It is an intentional choice. I am rereading her treasures as we go into the remainder of the year. Each time I read I am reminded about the power of genuine love.
One of my favorite passages from scripture that embodies bell hooks’ notion that is love is an action, never simply a feeling is 1 Corinthians 13. Let these words wash over you. The passage reminds me that what we do is the best indicator of what we beleive. As we go into this holiday season, never pass up an opportunity to show love. Love means being aware of the fact that this season does not hold the same meaning for everyone. Be sensitive to each other and know that we hold so much during this season.
If I had the gift of being able to speak in other languages without learning them and could speak in every language there is in all of heaven and earth, but didn’t love others, I would only be making noise.
If I had the gift of prophecy and knew all about what is going to happen in the future, knew everything about everything, but didn’t love others, what good would it do?
Even if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, I would still be worth nothing at all without love.
If I gave everything I have to poor people, and if I were burned alive for preaching the Gospel but didn’t love others, it would be of no value whatever.
Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy.
It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone, you will be loyal no matter what the cost.
You will always believe and always expect the best of them, and always stand your ground in defending them. All the special gifts and powers from God will someday come to an end, but love goes on forever.
There are three things that remain—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13: 1-8, 13