How do I love thee - let me count the ways. Easy to do when you are thinking about your spouse - child - parent - loved one. When we look at those we love - lots of ways to describe them - their attributes - character - cuteness - good - funny qualities. Without a doubt - very loveable. In todays scriptures - people much harder to love - lepers - those who are diseased - physical defects - mental issues - older - aged - worn by the ravages of time - wrinkled - people struggling with their very lives - desperately trying to fit in - find happiness in a troubled world.
All too many people are too quick to cast aside those who do not meet their expectation of beauty - charm - intellect - attractiveness. Guilty of judging the book by the cover - looking only at the superficial. Wise people know that physical beauty is only skin deep - the true beauty of an individual so often not visible to the human eye. When God looks at us - He sees deep to the soul - the interior of our being - our minds - hearts - our very spirit - our ability to either love as is - to reject based only on physical appearance. God calls us to love each other based on who we are - inside. As we quickly approach the Season of Lent - now is a great time to ask ouselves - who do we love and why.
Deacon Dale
