Love Feet First

Love begins with humility.  Honesty is the core of humility.  There is no love without relationship. Love necessitates an object. Love demands a demonstration. Distance of heart, mind, or proximity does not suffice. It has become popular to say that Christians should not get involved in politics. The trouble with that is that we have relegated so many love objects to politics. I understand that we do not want to get embroiled in “civilian pursuits” as the definitive answer to all ills. One problem is that we have divorced Spirit from our decision-making process. I don’t mean static things like posting the Ten Commandments, or the ritual of saying prayers in schools; those things have become our Corban. We neglect the weightier things by the elevation of human institutions. Once the symbols are in place, we wipe our hands, thinking these suffice as our act of love. “Will you give to the hungry?” We point and say, “Look at that plaque, that fulfills my duty.” We don’t involve our hearts. What a difference it would make if we remembered that every person is  beloved by The Divine.

If we are honest with ourselves and use honest, truthful words in place of “identity politics”, or “politically correct,” we will see Jesus in every person that is hungry, homeless, imprisoned, ill, and heart-broken. We will see the face of Emmanuel in people who are mistreated because they look different or have broken minds. We will use the feet of action to demonstrate how to “love one another” as we are commanded. Honesty can open our hearts and minds, and ears, and loosen our tongues to welcome and to comfort. We might become fatigued, but we will not grow weary of loving fellow humans in a practical way. We will eschew hiding behind institutions and shielding words. We will recognize our own reflection in “the least of these.” We will see our Savior. To demonstrate love, He allowed His heart to be pierced, dying for us. I bow before His feet.