When we say "God is Love," what are we really saying? When we hear the words, "God is Love," what are we really hearing? God is Love. What do we mean when we say love? What do we think of, visualize? What kinds of yearnings are being expressed? Many of us have rather limited, or cut and dried understandings of love. I think the first thing that comes to mind for many is romantic love, with of course an element, often a very strong and dominant element, of sexuality. Erotic love. Or we could call it cherry cheesecake love (maybe chocolate, or how about New York? Pumpkin spice cheesecake, anyone?) Of course the idea is, something from which we derive intense pleasure. The love of gratification. But when that last mouthful has been swallowed, and all we are left is an empty plate and a dirty fork, then what do we do? We are going to feel over-satiated at first, and later, empty again.
Then there is the love of a mother for her child. We could call this Mother Bear Love. We all know what happens when we step between, however unknowingly, a mother bear and her cub. That's right, we become dinner. Nothing is more precious to mother, be she bear or human, than her precious little mouth breather, made and sourced from her own precious body. I am not sure if any mother ever completely loses that primal link to her kids, that instinctual sense that her children are part of her body, therefore extensions of her. Of course mom is going to protect and defend to the death her darling offspring. Even when he grows up and becomes a criminal, or when she grows up and becomes a doctor, my progeny right or wrong. Such unconditional love. And everyone else is excluded. This is a members only love.
Rather like, what could be called collegiate love. Which is the love of our personal friends, our team members, our comrades in arms. As long as we remain on the same side there is nothing we won't do for one another. But just cross that line to the other side...Well, we see the worst examples of this in religious cults, when anyone who dares associate with folks outside of their darling little sect, or just questions and challenges their tenets and precepts, will be tossed out on their ear and never heard from again. This is what I call conditional love.
There is also the love of reciprocity. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. You cover my heinie and I'll cover yours. There is also the love of gratitude, which is a little bit better than the others, though it also falls short of unconditional love. But the love of gratitude can also be a starting point, or even a launching pad for the unconditional variety.
I think we are really starting to get warm when we start to think of the love of interconnectedness. This is the recognition that we are all connected to one another. This is a cosmic, transcendent form of love. And this is where the love that God is really begins. I am thinking also of where Jesus says that if we love only those who love us, what will be our reward, since even the tax collectors can do this.
We are called by God, who is the higher love, to love with that very higher love. The love that recognizes no distinctions or barriers. The love that welcomes, cherishes, protects and nurtures all, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, socioeconomic status, political or religious affiliation, or pick any one. When we really start to move towards unconditional love, each person becomes a mirror reflecting back to us our true and natural face. Each one of us draws forth to perfection the best that is in all of us. …But the challenge is in getting there, and even the greater challenge is learning how to live there.
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