Love (Part 1)

The cultural conception of love is so distorted.  Love songs, romance novels, TV shows--they promote an ideology of love that is unhelpful at best and destructive at worst.  They speak of the hormonal feelings and impulses as falling in love, and treat people as animals in heat looking for a mate.  If you've ever had a pet that has not been neutered/spayed, then you know that animals in heat are not pleasant to be around, and all relationships are abandoned in search of a mate.  Yet, this is how the culture now promotes love.  Physical chemistry seems to be foremost: "If it feels right, do it."  Compatibility of character of beliefs seems not to matter anymore.  But enough ranting on the culture and falling in love.

Love is an action, not a feeling, and it takes conscious effort to maintain.  Unlike desire, love with long-term relationships in mind will pay attention to the compatibility of mind, soul and body, not just body.  Love requires wisdom and strength and patience.  To paraphrase Joshua 23:11, we must be careful to maintain love in every aspect of our lives.