Litmus Test

Have you ever had a moment where you really feel like you know something, only to have your world flipped upside down as that something you thought you knew slips out from under you like a sheet of ice? 

Welcome to my weekend

What was that something that I was so wrong about? For the last couple of years up until now, I thought I had an understanding of what I considered a basic concept: Love.

Now you probably think you know where I'm going with this, but hold your judgments for a second. 

You see, I'm not even talking about Marital love, as my lack of experience would clearly dictate misgivings. I'm talking about love for others. Easy right? At least, easy to understand, although maybe hard in practice. 


Wrong. Well, maybe not all wrong, but missing. Definitely missing. At least, for me it was.

Let's take a moment to compare our views, shall we? To me, love was something that could only be displayed as a selfless act. Love was doing unto others what I would want done for myself. 

Unselfish, caring, kind, focused, serving. Love was giving to others. Love was being there for people through tough times. Love was choosing to forgive the offense of others.

Unfortunately, though all of these definitions are characteristics of real love, I missed the point. There is a sort of litmus test for love. Real love, that is. For me, it all came down to this one, simple question:

Do I experience pain when I look back to the cross on which Jesus Christ suffered and died for me?

I think it was at this point when the rug was yanked out from under me. Ouch! 

Uhh... I don't know.. You could have asked me so many other questions that I would answer yes to. Do you love Jesus? Yes. Is he important to you? Yes. What does the cross mean to you? Everything.

Do you still feel pain when you think of the pain that Christ suffered for you? ......no. Wow!

Have you caught the gist of test yet?  No? Well here it is. 

If I am not willing to experience the pain of others myself, I cannot truly love... If I have not opened myself to feeling the pain that Christ had for ME, how on earth will I be able to experience the pain of others?

The answer? I can't.

In an instant, everything I thought I understood about love stood on its head.This weekend, I had a chance to help out with an organization called Samaritan's Feet in Joplin, MO with an outreach focused on washing the feet of those in poverty and giving them new shoes. Now, that may sound a bit weird, but if it was good enough for Jesus, it is good enough for me.

Anyway, it was here that the previously discussed truth became real… in the eyes of a little girl named Diamond. Only seven years old. Completely innocent. She was precious. As I was washing this little girl's feet, I asked her what her family situation was like. To hear her tell me of the multiple foster homes she has lived in and will continue to live in, to hear her speak with uncertainty of her real family and their whereabouts, heartbreaking.

And for the first time since having my previous revelation, I understood the choice it takes to let somebody into your heart. It is a conscious effort to remove the comfortable guard that we often have around our hearts to let her in. 

The sad thing is, Diamond's story isn't even uncommon! 

There are probably people that you know and/or are close to that have these stories. If we have never taken the time to feel pain, can we really say we love?

Hmmm... Well, it seems I've reached my conclusion, though you will have to come to terms with your own decision.

Here is my suggestion to you. Take this litmus test seriously. Do you really know what it means to love? Really?.... What do you feel when you think about the man who was tortured and killed for your sake? What about when you hear of other peoples' hurts?

Now don't get me wrong, love requires action!!! If you feel what I've been describing but never do anything about it, then you're just as lost as those who don’t open their hearts! What I am getting at is that love goes deeper than just surface actions. Love hurts. There is no way around it.

The question now lingers, hanging in the air. Do you know what it means to love?