I watched a movie
the other night called ‘Love Actually’, it tells the story of how love can be
found. In the introduction the narrator uses the
tragedy of the New York trade towers as an example that despite the tragedy,
stories of love were everywhere. "Love is actually all around.” I liked that.
I found a song this
Christmas written and sung by Casting Crowns, called ‘While You Were Sleeping’
and it tells the story of not paying attention to the love that is given for
all of us. Take a moment if you can and
listen to it.
This song seems
rather fitting considering what has happened in the world these last few weeks.
The song is aimed for the United States but the rest of the countries in this
world could easily have their names slipped in to its place.
Right now we are
aware of the massacres in Newtown,Conneticut; Chengping,China and Webster, NewYork; shootings, stabbings…planned murderous rampages, all of these happening in
the middle of this December, a time when all should be joy.
Yet these happenings
are not new. Our world is filled with
suffering, has been, for well over 2000 years…more.
Our world is filled
with strange philosophies, ideas and thoughts that take us away from personal
relationships, family and love; thinking that takes us away from God, from His
hope and His peace.
Well that’s what the
world view seems to say. But I’m not so
sure…actually, I see love all around.
I see family holding
on to one another, I see parents loving each other. I see Grandparents praying for their children
and grandchildren, loving them, giving them hope through illnesses and
suffering. I see elderly parents being
cared for by their children while they travel the road to the end of life on
this earth. I see friends to all of these, whole communities stepping up to
show support and to offer help, hope, love.
Unending love, actually.
I see men working
hard to make lives better for others in this world, whether it is in other
countries or whether it is right in their own neighbourhoods, men that are
helping single mothers and giving to food banks, animal shelters and to causes that affect
them just as much as the ones they are helping. I see some of these
same men working towards leading their families in love and purpose. I see young women stepping out to help in the
hospitals, to feed the poor and I see young mothers loving their children and
teaching them to love in return. I see
Pastors sharing the message of what God wants us to know and I see their
congregations responding, doing more, in love.
Unending love.
I see children in
Christmas plays helping out their special needs friends, I see children lending
a hand up to their team mate in sporting events, I see children throwing their
arms around teachers as they give out gifts they have chosen, I see the
teachers responding in kind. I see children
who are showing signs of taking care of others, of putting others before
themselves…I see hearts filled with pride, joy, love.
Unending love, actually.
Yes, I see the light
in the eyes of the children, I see the reflection in their parents’ eyes, and I
see pride beaming in grandparents. I see the sparkle in the eyes of the great
grandparents, the ones that say ‘my body is old but inside I am young’. I see people looking at other people, wanting
to help, daring to help, loving to help.
I see the stories
that tell this is going on in the whole of the world, stories that are on the
edges of the suffering, but they are there, they can be found…actually, love is all around.
I love that.
