Love is not an idea

“Jesus came to awaken our heart. Religion too often makes it about rules and rituals. It defines our holiness by our allegiance and compliance to the organization, tradition, and system. Over and against religion, Jesus showed up and calls for an awakening of the heart. He says God is love, and love your neighbor as you love yourself. Jesus invited all people to allow themselves to be loved by God – to open our hearts and know that we are lovable… ever last single one of us. Jesus said look at me and see what God is like, and then he knelt in the dirt to rescue a woman who had been written off by religion. Jesus taught us that love is not an idea. It’s something you feel in your heart, and then you bring expression to it through your humanity. The truth is not a sterile and indifferent philosophy, or a theological creed. Jesus said, “I am the truth,” and then he lived a life of love. Jesus lived in the security of divine love, and walked a daily path of human love. Do you imagine you have to be intelligent to know God, or have correct theology, or carry out all the duties of organized religion? Jesus said I can show you everything you need to know when it comes to God, and then he lived a life of love. His heart was flung wide open to God and the world.”

- Jim Palmer, Notes from (Over) the Edge

(photo by Darla Winn)