Loving Well

Lately loud has gotten a lot of attention. Being truth tellers is cool - although, can we admit that finding it is a bit like hunting for that one missing sock in a load of static-laden laundry?

If we REALLY want to be counter-cultural, think paleo for the heart. Loving-kindness is not only a lost art, it is an ancient one. This term and related ideas can be found across all religious expressions. Lovingkindness was coined by Myles Coverdale in 1535. This was his interpretation of the biblical word: hesed. Although my auto-correct feature does not like lovingkindness as a single word real rebels know to not be led astray by the tyranny of a computer. Myles thought of it as a single phrase, a merger of an intention (love) and action (kindness). While we are stuck on languages, kharis was a Greek word that inspired the English word “charity” and is also translated as “grace.” Eugene Peterson, in his translation of the bible called “The Message” took a swipe at talking about it when he wrote...

“Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that’s charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.”

Luke 6:31-34 MSG

I long for a return to a world where even the run-of-the-mill sinner knew how to love SOMEBODY WELL!! Where are the stingy pawnbrokers who AT LEAST practice acts of kindness for their quid pro quos.