Love is a Verb

In the wee hours of last night, during a night-time feeding, while my arms cradled sweet Nathan, my brain was busy with the following thought:

Love is a verb.

Yes, I know it can also be a noun. But, love as a verb...now, that's something to think about. A verb typically expresses action, state, or relation between two things. Paramount, in my mind, is the fact that a verb requires action. When we think about God being love, we usually think of Him in the noun form. He, she, it...a noun. But, God's character and nature are revealed most clearly in His expression - in the action He took to pour love out (Himself out) upon and for His creation.

So, when we are commanded to "Love one another..." it suddenly isn't enough to 'be in a state of having loving feelings towards others'. I know that's typically my response, especially towards the not-so-lovely. Isn't it enough that I be polite and kind? After all, if I'm not acting out in hate, then doesn't that mean that, by default, I'm walking in love? I don't think so. We are commanded to LOVE. What does our response look like? Assuming our obedience to God's direction for our lives, if we were commanded to run, there would be a real, measurable response to that command. Is it the same with the command to love? Is our response quantifiable? Is it enough?

God's action of love looked like blood spilled out for people who couldn't have cared less. It looked like ultimate sacrifice. What does my love look like? Pretty pale, luke-warm and watered down in comparison to the example that God has set for us.

Blogging Blahs

I'd apologize for my lack of posting, but...I'm not gonna. Yes, I've been busy, but not really any busier than any other time in life. Truth is, I just haven't felt like blogging.

Lately, Zach and I have both been marveling at (and lamenting) this phenomena that has slowly but surely developed over the last several years - a consuming absorption with "self". Texting, tweeting, facebook-ing, blogging... All means of sharing your information and your life, but without any real obligation to truly connect or to participate in any sort of meaningful dialog. Of course you can choose to connect, but it's still somewhat superficial and on your terms - only with the people you deem worthy and worthwhile. Where's the reaching out? Where's the relationship? Where's the "us" and the "we"?

Of course, I'm just as guilty as the next. I blog. I have a facebook page - although I really hate logging on and do it as in-frequently as possible. Why do I hate logging on? Because I don't want to chat. I want to talk to people when it's convenient for me, not when they catch me. Just another example of the all important "self". What am I going to do to change this truly yucky behavior that I find in myself? I'm not sure. But, something needs to be done.

What about you? What do you think?