Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. - Mother Teresa
The church is littered with concepts of love, most being romantic ideals that fizzle out like uncorked champagne. Uncontainable and exuberant at their inspiration, however fragile and shattered at the first sign of discomfort or obstacle. I am as guilty as anyone in this sentence. We are fooled into thinking that acts of love must be "extraordinary" to be true. Simple love, however, is persistence. Being committed to people guarantees exhaustion. Exhaustion in body, mind, emotion, and soul. However, persistence means loving "without getting tired." Love is a daily commitment to serve with body, mind, emotion and soul the people of the world, not only the church. The task is hard, it demands nothing less than everything from its pursuers. Yet, we are undeniably called to it.
I have often heard it said, "you have to love yourself before you can love someone else." But, it is the love of the self that inhibits love for others. Persistence in love is a commitment to denying the self; to resisting temptation to succumb to inevitable exhaustion. Love flows freely, when not hindered by inconvenience. Love's patience often endures the downhill slope, but falters and fails at the hills. I would cease to call this love; tolerance is a more fitting term. "Putting up" with someone is a fair fall short of loving them. Tolerance is a short fuse, lit by the match of human character.
It is easy to love the lovable, and easier to justify our sins against those we deem unlovable (for whatever crimes they dared commit against us). We point a tarnished finger; leagues deep in our own offenses. The paradox: we are all unlovable, and yet we were loved. Loved so much, that our creator chose to be hung by the nails of our imperfections. Christ shouldered the burden of true love in His self-sacrificial, perseverance. He endured, unto death, our offenses against him, for love's sake.
We are left to embrace people, with out excuse and without rest. This is not begrudged trudging, but a joyful undertaking.
In conclusion; love is extraordinary when it endures. When it endures with joy. Simple, enduring joy in other people and God.
