"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." ~Martin Luther King Jr.
I believe in love and I believe in humanity.
If we can look at people with genuinely loving eyes and know that we have the courage to step up and love the difference in them, then we can in fact make a difference in our cities and nations.
I believe that we can pull value and worth out of others and show them their purpose and help them up instead of pushing them down.
I believe we have full potential to put others before ourselves and never leave anyone behind.
I believe we are people who build up the broken, and see passions and dreams come back to life.
People who are grateful for the life we live and the lives of others.
There is hope in every person.
There is value and worth in every person.
There is a passion inside of every person.
There is gold inside of every person.
There is LOVE inside of every person.
I see love taking over all cities and making a sweep across the world in every heart and every soul.
I see banners with love on them being held above cities across the planet.
I see love taking over.
He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you,
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
~Micah 6:8
Love Others — This changes absolutely everything. The way we see the world. The way we see people. The way we see ourselves. The way we see God.
And it doesn't end there...
When we approach life with an others-focused mentality, we literally flip today's culture on it's head and begin to soften people's hearts towards love.
The person who is others-focused has the heart of a servant. They are both generous and kind without expectation of return. This person not only believes in the dreams of the people around them, but does everything they can to help those dreams come true. The others-centred person is consistent in character, and remains steadfast in authenticity. This person is genuinely passionate about the success of others. They are incessantly encouraging, and without fail, believe the best in everyone. Faithfully, they keep showing up through the highs and the lows, and constantly have the best interest of others in mind.
Love is a verb. It is not passive, but in everything passionately seeks justice. There is something attractive about genuine love. It doesn't push people away, but rather draws them closer together and is a creator of community. It is not a respecter of persons. Love is not afraid to speak the truth, and does so with grace. It is a living, breathing example of life lived to the fullest. Love does not judge, but seeks to resolve and restore. Time and time again it sees potential in every person and draws gold out of them. It doesn't look to be applauded, but is the first to cheer others on. Love leaves no man behind.
Humanity cries out for love.
Searching the streets like it's been hidden in some sort of liquid or pill only to find themselves looking for a refill.
We claim that we care, but when will we actually dare to take a stand?
When will we take the time to understand that compassion without action is only a recognition of reality?
That life is not a movie screen with a climax scene, but rather a daily choice to wear love as though it were armour going into battle.
And it is a battle.
One that asks you to die daily to yourself without a funeral march.
It leaves your feet tired and hands dirty and blistered.
But the result...
People.
Purposed people who know their place despite their history, social class or race.
Who shout to the world...You Belong!
They seek to spread this contagious feeling that they first experienced when love prevailed.
And when tomorrow becomes today we will look back and say with confidence:
"It was love that changed the world" <3
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
~1 Corinthians 13:4-8
If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.
If I speak God's word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that say to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing.
If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but don't love, I've gotten nowhere.
So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.
~1 Corinthians 13:1-3