Be Devoted to One Another in Brotherly Love

[Photo credit: awkwardfamilyphotos.com]

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love."

The phrase "Brotherly Love" evokes in me memories of lazy Sundays watching the Lawrence brothers in their quirky TV show. Good times. It also reminds me of John 15:13 ("Greater love hath no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.").

Most of all, it reminds me to cherish those around me. The verse doesn't say "be devoted to your friends" or "be devoted to the people you like," but "be devoted to one another." Everyone, love everyone!

Again, we are all human, it can be plain exhausting to be 100% nice to 100% of the people around you 100% of the time. Plus, you might just come across as creepy or fake.

Honestly, I have a really hard time telling people how much I appreciate them. I never had a steady friend as a child, so I get really nervous that my friends will just forget about me and move on to cooler people. It's happened before. Also, I struggle with a lot of mental negativity from depression, so it's easy for me to put myself down and think that no one wants to be my friend.

Showing brotherly love to someone can take a lot of courage, but simple gestures go a long way too. Hold doors for people. Help someone pick up their loose change that they dropped in the store. Smile. Hug. Laugh with. Pray for.

Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

Continuing with Romans 12.

[Disclaimer: I am on Dayquil.]

[Picture credit: http://onthejob.45things.com/2010/02/how-to-hang-on-to-new-job.php]

"Hate what is evil; cling to what is good."

First thing you think of when you hear this phrase? "Hugs not drugs!" Or at least someone telling you not to do something, as if you're a little kid. "Don't bring bugs in the house." "Don't just wet your toothbrush and say that you brushed your teeth." "Don't run around the pool." At first, you're disinclined to listen, but then you notice that it's two "do" actions, not two "don't" actions. Mrs. Sorenson (my 2nd grade teacher) said that those are better rules to have, because they're happier to follow.

Hate must be just as sincere as love. It means that you feel utter repulsion from something. It should push you towards good with the same wonky sensation as a repelling magnet.

Cling? Just like in the picture above, it may mean holding on with your last finger. It's like in the movie, The Guardian, when they talk about how Ben Randall held onto a harnessless man with just his fingertips, as the helicopter they were dangling from thrashed about in the wind and they were buffeted by waves from below. The character tore tendons in his arm and was out of commission for months, but he saved that man's life.

It's important to practice this

in both your actions and your thoughts.

Don't linger if you know something isn't right.

Run.

And cling to good.

Don't listen to thoughts that you aren't good enough.

Run.

Cling to Jesus.

He thought you were good enough.

He died for you.

Love Must Be Sincere

When asked, I often say that my favorite Bible study was one on the second half of Romans 12. It was for the officers' Bible study in the UCU Women's house. We would wake up at 5:55AM to have our study at 6AM.

Each of our meetings focused on one phrase. We would discuss what we thought it meant and how we could live it out that quarter.

It's time to relive that study, but with some art, music, and poetry to assist.

"Love must be sincere."

In most relationships between two people (friendship, marriage, etc.), there is some form of love. Unfortunately, at least one person in the relationship loves themselves more than they love the other person. It's inevitable. We're all human. It may be seen in just a momentary action, or could be the theme of the relationship.

More than anything, it is seen in our relationships with Jesus. Definitely think about myself more than I think about the most awesome Savior in the universe. Oops!

That's why love takes work.
It's easy to forget that.
Love is one of the hardest
but most rewarding jobs
for which you will ever have the honor
of laboring.

One thing is for sure:
The harder you work towards love,
the more you will learn
about God's selfless love,
and how you can exemplify it
in your own life.

Secret Revealed

With Lady Gaga's Bad Romance, in the bridge following the lines that are not in English, I like to yell, "I don't want to be French" instead of the actual lyrics. The best part is that no one can ever hear you, because they're also yelling the lyrics, but the actual ones.

Opposite Day

I confuse myself.

Not only am I never able to make up my mind,

but I simultaneously feel opposing emotions.

Sure, it's common to feel torn between

one thing or another.

But I describe myself as

particular, non-partial,

old-at-heart, young-at-heart,

determined, unsure,

candid, guarded,

flexible, stubborn,

interested, indifferent.

Even my Kindergarten teacher described me as

an independent clinger.

Is this what it is to be human?