Active Love

[humble soul]

Might it be possible that what God is asking us to do is very simple? Tolerance, patience and understanding with others.
Most of us have at least one annoying trait. At least one strange idiosyncrasy. I have several. Not that I'm proud of them. I'm more a buffoon than a comedian.
It is so tempting to complain about others' behaviour. I still do it. " He's so dismissive!"
"She's so dumb!"
Now hang on Huckleberry. I can be both stupid and opinionated. But it's more fun to point out others flaws? Ever the child Humble. Sometimes you are just stupid and dull.
So I'm not sure about this agape and accessing God's love., So we can love others with it. If we can't do it naturally, maybe we aren't cut out for loving others.
Loving others is decidedly unglamorous and often ugly. We get insulted . We get ridiculed. We get taken for granted. It's behind the scenes. No starring role.
I think of the carer. Carer for an elderly or disabled or both. No one is showering them with praise. They just get on with it.
Truly decent people just do it. They don't ask themselves "am I being loving?" They have an instinct for love. They are naturally nurturing. It's often a woman in this role. But not always. Resilience and daily struggle. I've worked in nursing homes. Some carers are God's chosen people , in my opinion.
So yeah active love. People like me are the ones who realise their own capacity for love is limited. I tend to worship the God of intellectualism and literature. The least I can do is highlight the real heroes in life. The unsung and unnoticed . Often low status and the bottom rung of society. No time for forums like these.
Ok..better have a break from this self loathing.

 

[Tessa]

I agree patience and understanding are important, that is part of loving others. I think it is active too.
We are all different and show our love in different ways.
Jesus told us how to love. The list is endless. That is how He loves.
We can't always help in a big way, but perhaps we can find them help. Everyone has a purpose.
You write very well Humble. Have you ever thought of taking it up?

 

[humble soul]

You write very well Humble. Have you ever thought of taking it up

I'm improving. I will never be a professional writer.
My responsibility as a writer is to boost the profile of the unseen, unrecognised "active love" heroes. Among other things.

 

[humble soul]

From my parents death, I learnt that the real heroes in life don't get recognition until after they die. People miss them. They miss their love and attention. There is suddenly a vacuum of love deficit. They realise there is not enough love in themselves. Is it too late for them to change?

 

[Tessa]

I realised the point of your post, and it was a form of active love from you.

 

[humble soul]

Women probably are better at love. My father being an exception.

 

[Tessa]

From my parents death, I learnt that the real heroes in life don't get recognition until after they die. People miss them. They miss their love and attention. There is suddenly a vacuum of love deficit. They realise there is not enough love in themselves. Is it too late for them to change?

Know that feeling. My mother and husband died within 6 weeks of each other. I felt alone in a cold world.
I believe it is never too late to change.

 

[humble soul]

I realised the point of your post, and it was a form of active love from you.

Active love is very challenging on a forum like this. Boredom is also an issue. People get tired of the fights. But they also get tired of niceness perhaps.
The dilemma for me is staying true to who I think I am and accepting others for who they are. I really wish I "liked" everyone but I don't. People like to be liked. I'm no different.

 

[humble soul]

Know that feeling. My mother and husband died within 6 weeks of each other. I felt alone in a cold world.
I believe it is never too late to change.

Were they both "active love" human beings?

 

[Tessa]

Were they both "active love" human beings?

Yes they were both that'.

 

[Hospes]

Not arguing, just adding:

I think active love many times is not nice. I imagine most of us would jerk someone out of the way of an oncoming car, even if it meant we dislocated their arm. Or we'd tell someone we love a hard truth if we thought it would help them avoid a horrid decision and its consequences. At the danger of being labeled a sexist, I think there are feminine and masculine qualities in love. It seems western cultures are attracted to the feminine side most. Masculine, not so much.