Love Any Other Way

If only it was just a thought,
surface level, like how we live
no need, no feeling, no truth
After all, we're ok.

If only it was just easy,
surface level, like how we live
no work, no pain, no idea
After all, it's been done before.

If only it was just safe
surface level, like how we live
no strife, no danger, no reward
After all, we're free.

If only it was just weak
surface level, like how we live
no success, no danger, no honesty
After all, there are other fish in the sea.

The problem is that it...
Consumes us
Develops us
Redeems us
Gives us hope
Gives us peace

In our desperate attempts to imitate it...
Love seems to escape us.

And so I'm digging.
There is something so deeper,
loneliness won't win this battle.
It never meant to be a thought,
but an action played out
consuming my mind.

And so I'm digging.
There is something so deeper,
laziness won't win this battle.
It never meant to be easy,
but an idea to strive for,
developing my heart.

And so I'm digging.
There is something so deeper,
fear won't win this battle.
It never meant to be safe,
but a movement so demanding,
redeeming my soul.

And so I'm digging.
There is something so deeper,
sin won't win this battle.
It never meant to be weak,
but a lifestyle so relieving
peace and hope as my strength.

Patiently I'm digging,
it gets stronger as I wait.
Kindly I'm digging,
helping those who need.
Humbly I'm digging,
remembering those before me.
Honorably I'm digging,
serving only One.
Selflessly I'm digging,
what I'm doing will be for all.

As the rock chips, my shovel gets weak
Faith can act that way occasionally getting bleak.

As the rock chips, my strength sways
Hope can disappear... but in God, well He never ceases to amaze.

So what am I, why am I digging?

If only it was just a thought,
surface level, like how we live.
But it can't, it needs more than just our minds.

If only it was just easy,
surface level, like how we live
But it can't, it's a trial, a trouble, a need.

If only it was just safe
surface level, like how we live
But it can't, it demands risk.

If only it was just weak
surface level, like how we live
But it's not, it's the strongest power.

If it were what we wished,
what then would be the strange mystery about it?
If it were just kept in our minds, easy, safe, weak, hidden all to ourselves.
What feeling would that be?
What problems would that solve?
We would still be lost, still be trapped,
still be in darkness, still have no savior.
No.
What it requires is to dig for it. To live for it.
Digging Down Deep into the rock,
giving of yourself,
not backing down,
realizing it's not about you,
embracing grace towards others,
waiting, waiting...
Rarely early, but never late.

It's not love any other way.

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I almost don't want to give an explanation, and allow you to take it as you will... however I'll say this.
God is love.
But He is also so much more than that.
God is love and we are to Love Him and Love others.
Love with all of our mind, heart, soul, and strength.
We need to embrace it.
Love it.
Build our lives upon it.

~Luke 6:46-49
"Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."