LOVE

Fear of getting or passing  the corona virus is so strong, so I’m going to attach the word love to fear.  A verse to ponder is the one that says, “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.”  I John 4:17&18   Wow. That's a lot to ponder.  Let's unpack it.  
 
This is a day of judgement, especially from the first Wikipedia definition. “the ability to make considered decisions or come to sensible conclusions. “ Our decisions right now are considered around what we can or can't do.  Go to work. Travel. Visit the relatives in the next province. Throw a big birthday party for someone turning fifty.  We come to sensible conclusions and compromise or do the best we can within the boundaries of the health regulations. Our love isn't diminished, it's just directed and expressed differently.  

The word "perfect" is used three times and attached to love in every case. First, our love is made perfect so we have this courage to consider our decisions and come to sensible conclusions. Second, perfect love casts out fear, because there's no fear in love. And third, if you fear you can't be made perfect in love. Perfect doesn't mean no flaws or mistakes.  It means you choose to see, be and do love to replace fear. It's what's perfect for you. What fits. This seems to be saying that you can’t mix fear and love.  There’s one or the other.

Have you noticed how the fear of the virus subsides when we show our love towards others. Whether it's finding out if a senior neighbor needs something, or being patient in the long line ups on the sidewalk outside the stores.  Fear also subsides when someone is caring, like medical people caring for the sick, and merchants in grocery stores caring by working so hard to keep everything sanitary and safe? And the shelves stocked,  (with toilet paper!!!) 

My old grandmother used to say there were only three things to avoid in life: "Debt. Dirt. and the Devil." With the corona virus we are tempted to fear death, debt, and the devil who's behind all things evil. ( in my opinion )  I put them on one side of the fear versus love scale in the illustration.  On the other side I have nothing but love.  Some coming from the hands of others, and some coming from God.  Times like these call for more mercy, forgiveness, and patience. All are acts of love.  Giving to those in need and sharing from any abundance will help someone else to have less fear.  That way your love casts our some of their fear.  The verse also says, "as He is, so are we in the world."  He (God) is love. So fear doesn't come from Him if love casts out fear.  Let Him shine through us in all the love we can manage! 

Much is being exposed in the world and true colors of both the good and the evil are showing up. We will see in the end where the love really is because of when and where fear is cast out.  If no one is doing that, then we have to reach in ourselves and decide to act and react with love, even if no one else is. We have to do that daily as we face this “unseen enemy” and trust the judgement of our government leaders and medical experts to bring this to an end. Amen.


 

 

 

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