Love or Indifference?

My new favorite band right now is The Lumineers! So, of course, you know, I am listening to it obsessively ---as any normal adult whom loves music would! (ha!) One of  the songs on the CD has a phrase in it that I cannot get out of my head; I'm constantly rolling it over in my thoughts and trying to decide what it 'really' means. You know, not obsessive at all; however, when it comes to the subject of love are we not bought in deeper than just a thought? Love is a subject we wrestle with understanding that strikes us all the way to the core, the depths of our heart, the struggles of our soul, all the way to the mysteries of our spirit. Love is an everlasting and never aging topic.

What's the verse, you ask that has me in such a ponder of my life?

The opposite of love is indifference.  I know right!! Mind bending. My immediate conversation with my iPod was, "No it is not, the opposite of love is hate!" Correct! But as I mentioned, I couldn't shake that the Lumineers may be on to something ---renewing afresh my thought on this touchy subject of love.

You all know what I did next? Of course I googled it!! (lol)

Indifference:

1. lack of interest or concern

2. unimportance; little or no concern 

3. mediocre quality; mediocrity.

 Synonyms: unconcern, listlessness, apathy, insensibility

 

Um! Wow! Are these things not true of us when we lack love for someone or something. No passion, no desire, no above and beyond, no engaging, no relationship. Indifferent!

 

I don't know about you but I certainly do not want to ever have a heart, mind, or attitude of indifference ---even towards things/people I do not particularly care for. I want people to say of me, that I care for them, that I'm kind, and most importantly, that I love them --even if I do not like! (just being honest!) We do not have to like everyone or everything but we do have to be mindful or our action, behavior, and most importantly, our mouths --taming that fiery tongue is a challenge for every human being on this earth, no one is alone in this battle!

 

My 'how to'? Since I'm a lover of Jesus you know I went to the bible to help me figure out this love thing; however, I know this information is filled with wisdom even unto the unbeliever. I'll leave you with 1 Corinthians 13:3-7 from the Message bible:

 

So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.