Focus On Love

During a brisk morning walk that doubled as prayer time, I talked with the Lord about some anxiety I carried with being new to my city. While I consider cultivating friendships a joy, I’m always a bit nervous meeting people for the first time. Most of my fears fall under an inferiority complex I hold in the intelligence department.

Did I ever mention that I used to have panic attacks whenever the commercial for the game show Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader aired? Feel free to laugh at that one. I won’t blame you, but know, I’m not making that up for laughs, it really use to happen. Being married to a college professor, I often feel like I don’t measure up in the brains department. Too often I rely on somewhat witty or cutesy banter to “survive†a department social and then later feel like a fool.

As I brought these fears to the surface of my conversation with God, the following scripture came to mind.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.†John 13:34-35.

That scripture stopped my feet from moving, because honestly, it didn’t make sense to me in that situation. I was praying for healing and peace regarding my issues, how could love relate to that? I asked God if my remembering that verse at that particular time was from Him or just random. As I continued walking, the word love drummed into my mind and formed a rhythm with my footsteps.

Later that day, I began thinking about a dinner we would be hosting for some new friends at the end of the week. I thought about our budget, small apartment, mismatched hand towels, and second-hand furniture. And although the Lord has worked wonders in my life regarding materialism, my nerves quaked for just a moment until another verse about love leapt into my heart and calmed my fretful spirit.

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.†Romans 12:10-11.

I recited the verse in the NIV translation, but would also like to share from the New Living translations.

“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.†Romans 12:9-11.

It was as if God was gently telling me to get over myself and begin to truly focus on my purpose for living on this planet…that purpose is to love and serve God and others.

It’s not that God doesn’t care about my issues. He does and He loves me in spite of them. But because He loves me so much, He is faithful to redirect me when I start heading down the wrong path.

While I know that God wants me to exercise my brain, I also know that my attitude toward others is far more important than my ability to explain or even understand the complexities of the current national economic crisis.

And whether I serve a simple casserole or lobster tails to my dinner guests matters not nearly as much as how I serve, honor, and love them at all times, not just when they are in my home.

Love. That’s where my focus needs to be…on loving others and on fully accepting the love God has given to me, a love that will free me from my hang ups.