WRITTEN IN BLOOD

      Love is great and I love to see it... in the eyes of the lovers, whether they're kids, with their moms and dads; or young teens, in the grips of puppy love; or aging adults with their aging smiles. I've seen love close up too. I remember the crush that I had on Marie Moran in grade school... and how I made a fool of myself when she chose me to be on her team. And I remember the love I shared with Sherry when we were first dating- how we would go to little jazz bars in Des Moines... and listen to the saxophone in the background, as we talked about a life that we never really imagined. I've been blessed to love and be loved by... two awesome daughters, three magnificent grandchildren, and a great-grandson, who is the picture of "adorable." My brothers are now gone and I miss them dearly... because I loved them deeply. Like you, I've loved my friends and extended family, whether I've known them well or not... and I dare not leave out my dogs because, in many ways, they've shown me how to love.
      Yes, love is great, and today, on this Valentine's Day, 2017, I want to invite you to journey with me... as we consider 12 different types of love. I'm sure there are more, but since 12 is a good Biblical number, I'll leave it at that. 1) First, there is Philia, as in Philadelphia, which is the love of friend for friend. King David and Saul's son, Jonathan, shared this love... and you may also know how deep Philia can be; 2) Eros is the 2nd form of love that the Greeks recognized. As the name implies, is founded in attraction- sensual, sexual- but it is not tawdry, It is not porneia- but rather, the "glad partner" of a much deeper love. Most of us have at least a nodding acquaintance with Eros; 3) then there's Storge, which is a love born of familiarity, as in family (although one may love other members of their Army platoon or AA group as well). Most of us know what it is to love a family member, who may or may not be a "friend;" 4) the Greeks called unconditional love, "Agape," and it is a high form of love indeed... because it's entirely "other-directed" and endless. It keeps on going, whether the other person is reciprocating or even rejecting it. At it's best, a mother's love is Agape; 5) Ludus love is manipulative and game-playing. It is something of a sport or an addiction to the lover and it does a lot of damage. Maybe you know someone who is a master at "Ludus;" 6) Pragma love, as the name implies, is "pragmatic." It is based on an "arrangement" and may or may not have any other dimensions; 7) Mania love is obsessive, controlling love, which is NOT really love. Flee from it and stay as far away as you can; 8) and I've already alluded to "Puppy" love, which is a shallow form of love, but real nonetheless. I remember the night I talked to Mary Wartig for 6 hours because I couldn't live without her, and she had just moved to Kansas City! Of course, I never saw her again, but I did have to explain the long-distance telephone bill to my mom.
      9) "Surrendered" love- "Suffering" love- comes to us when we surrender to love and let love have its way with us. It's the kind of love that Gibran wrote about when he said that we should follow love when it beckons us, even though its way is steep and hard... and that we should yield when love's wings enfold us, even though the sword hidden beneath love's pinions will make us bleed. Men and women who have this type of love are far more committed to the love that they are to any gain or pain that may come to them; 10) However, Surrendered love must not be confused with "Unrequited love," in which a person with little or no self-esteem allows themselves to become a punching bag for someone else. Surrendered love is driven by its own desire to love, rather than fear, people-pleasing, or a lack of self-respect; 11) Foot-washing love is THE love which we, as Christians, are all called to give to one another! It is a humble, obedient, servant-based form of love that many Christians refuse to give or receive, even though it is based on Jesus' own actions and words! It is necessary, however, if we are to get pride out of our way, and even more importantly, unless we wash one another's feet in His name... we will never show his love to others... as powerfully as we should.
      12) Finally, we come to "Cross-Carrying" love, which not only fulfills itself in its suffering... but sacrifices its life entirely when called upon. Jesus said it plainly, there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for others... even if they don't agree with you, or like you, or call you names, or spit in your face! Cross-carrying love is an unspeakably deep and real love. It is a love that puts itself above life. It is a love that is willing to let go entirely. It is a love that saves the world! It is Christ's love, and in His name, it is a love that men and women show in his name every now and then. Praise God for the cross and for all of those beautiful Christians who have carried a cross of their own.
      When Jesus hung on his cross and said, "Father, forgive them," it was his way of saying I love you to the end. He died with love on his lips, and he left us a Valentine... signed in his blood. Amen!