What Is Love?

I can still remember those afternoons in elementary school, toiling over piles of red construction paper, white lace, and heart templates. Between the plastic safety scissors (did they even have cutting edges?) and my painfully awkward pre-teen hands; it was a miracle any project requiring even a remote sense of dexterity was ever accomplished. But I didn’t care what it looked like; I didn’t care how long it took. It was the 14th of February and I needed my valentine box. How else was I going to know that I was loved? That I was accepted? See, the box was the key, I had it all figured out.

When we grow up we lose our beloved valentine boxes, full of reminders that we are loved.

But, then I graduated to junior high, where the school system decided it was time for me to become an adult. Algebra, shop class, and sex-ed. My idea of love, that bright red heart-shaped box full of valentines was replaced by popularity contests and teenage crushes. My youth pastor, whom my parents made me visit, offered little refuge. He just handed me a billion page book with silver page edges he called the Bible. “Now that you are an adult,” he instructed, “its time you learned about real love.” I faintly recalled seeing a similar book under the left TV stand leg for stabilization when dad watched the big game. How could this religious tome possibly take the place of hand-crafted valentines?

When we grow up we are expected to express love for each other without the help of cupid, barbies, or popular celebrities on card stock.

The bible, as I later discovered, at its most simplified core is simply a collection of stories. Each one, a narrative of God’s engagement in its character’s life. Each one, a depiction of the community we share. Each one, a love letter, passed from generation to generation, to encourage individual’s who need to hear its words. And for a long time I believed the only place to interact with God was to read these letters, these ancient stories.

When we grow up we must instead be willing to rely on each other to show and be shown the love that God has written into our lives.

But the stories continue on, throughout history people have relentlessly documented their engagements with the Lord. Just because these stories are not collected in an anthology and blessed by a priest, does not make them any less valid. In fact, each one of us has dozens of our own stories to tell; a ‘living bible.’ A testament to a love that sets us free. Letters of love and acceptance. Valentines from our Lord; to give to others.

And since the bible is no longer accepting entries for future publication; we must instead hand deliver each letter to our neighbors who need to hear its message. The valentine in your box. For there are people in this world who need to hear your story; and there are countless stories written by others that you need to hear.

By Jon, Volunteer