9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. (Romans 12:9-18)
“One life with each other…we get to carry each other”…I like the way this song says we get to carry each other. Not we have to carry each other, or we’re supposed to carry each other…we GET to carry each other. It is a privilege to be in holy community with one another. It is a blessing to weep with those who weep and to rejoice with those who rejoice. It is a blessing to share more love than we have received. It’s fun to try to outdo loving each other—not because we should be in competition, but simply seeing how far love in community can go.
We all have busy lives, those of us who work, those of us who raise children, and those of us who are retired—the idea that retirement gives you more time than you had when you worked full time is a myth that needs to be dispelled, as does the notion that stay at home parents "don't work"—but, if we want to see healthy, vibrant, vital, holy community…we have to decide to start loving even if no one has demonstrated that love to us, even if we feel that we are too busy to stop and share love. Why? Because we GET to carry each other. You only get one life here on earth, why be unhappy? Why be too busy to share in the joy of others, or share the in grief of others? Love genuinely; love authentically, love deeply, love extravagantly…slow down, and love one another.
“One life with each other…we get to carry each other”…I like the way this song says we get to carry each other. Not we have to carry each other, or we’re supposed to carry each other…we GET to carry each other. It is a privilege to be in holy community with one another. It is a blessing to weep with those who weep and to rejoice with those who rejoice. It is a blessing to share more love than we have received. It’s fun to try to outdo loving each other—not because we should be in competition, but simply seeing how far love in community can go.
We all have busy lives, those of us who work, those of us who raise children, and those of us who are retired—the idea that retirement gives you more time than you had when you worked full time is a myth that needs to be dispelled, as does the notion that stay at home parents "don't work"—but, if we want to see healthy, vibrant, vital, holy community…we have to decide to start loving even if no one has demonstrated that love to us, even if we feel that we are too busy to stop and share love. Why? Because we GET to carry each other. You only get one life here on earth, why be unhappy? Why be too busy to share in the joy of others, or share the in grief of others? Love genuinely; love authentically, love deeply, love extravagantly…slow down, and love one another.
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