When the news broke today that the Supreme Court had come to a long awaited decision on a burning topic in today's culture, my first reaction was to roll my eyes, let out a less-than-shocked sigh, mumble a sarcastic, "Who woulda thought," and take a 24-hour hiatus from social media. My second reaction was to internally grieve for myself and all of the repetitive conversations about it that I would have to sit through for the next 3 months.
My first reaction lasted a minimum of 5 seconds before I broke and started scrolling through social media feeds to read the mixed opinions. Some were joyfully celebrating, some were bitterly complaining, and some were just relieved that the whole thing was over. It then took a minimum of 10 seconds to see that 97% of the world had to write a long, wordy Facebook status or Twitlonger to explain their standpoint. There was an endless stream of bickering between love and hate, but at the end of all the commotion, #LoveWins was trending Worldwide on Twitter and #HateWins was not.
I've never been one to publicly state my personal opinion on political and cultural subjects such as this in any form on the internet, but I happily plan out what I would say if I were to do such a thing in my head. From what words to italicize to a punch-in-the-face closing thought, I think of every single thing I would do to possibly get a point across without asking for too much negative feedback or a welcome-to-the-close-minded-club pat on the shoulder from fellow Christians. I did that same exact thing with this blog here. But then I realized that when it comes to opinion, a happy medium is nearly impossible.
So here I am with millions, billions, and trillions of words shaking through my brain, trying to figure out how to share my honest feelings towards the #LoveWins, craze and still have all of my friends by the end of it.
My first reaction lasted a minimum of 5 seconds before I broke and started scrolling through social media feeds to read the mixed opinions. Some were joyfully celebrating, some were bitterly complaining, and some were just relieved that the whole thing was over. It then took a minimum of 10 seconds to see that 97% of the world had to write a long, wordy Facebook status or Twitlonger to explain their standpoint. There was an endless stream of bickering between love and hate, but at the end of all the commotion, #LoveWins was trending Worldwide on Twitter and #HateWins was not.
I've never been one to publicly state my personal opinion on political and cultural subjects such as this in any form on the internet, but I happily plan out what I would say if I were to do such a thing in my head. From what words to italicize to a punch-in-the-face closing thought, I think of every single thing I would do to possibly get a point across without asking for too much negative feedback or a welcome-to-the-close-minded-club pat on the shoulder from fellow Christians. I did that same exact thing with this blog here. But then I realized that when it comes to opinion, a happy medium is nearly impossible.
So here I am with millions, billions, and trillions of words shaking through my brain, trying to figure out how to share my honest feelings towards the #LoveWins, craze and still have all of my friends by the end of it.
The reigns are no longer in our hands, Christians. In fact, they never were in the first place. We want control and we want things to go our way, but we don't want to really dig deep and fight for it. One moment we're praying for a chance to make a difference, and the next moment we're throwing out our white flags with words of dread pouring from our mouths. All because it seems like we've lost a fight that we never even fought for. If we give up and get angry and toss around cruel words because the world acted like the world, we've missed the point. The world made another decision that we shouldn't be surprised by, but what truly matters is how we react to it.
We've been handed a giant opportunity to shake up the universe. This is our moment to love deeper and greater than ever before, and do it in a way that can't be ignored. Love does win. But the Love that wins is one they've yet to see and one they don't understand. It's one that we don't even thoroughly understand. It's the Love that doesn't have to be voted on or fought for or talked about until everyone is tired of it; it's the Love that is always there and never waivers or fails. Let's lift it high and live it loud, my friends.
Here's a proposal and challenge to you, Christians, and myself: let's start a movement. Let's give them intense, burning, radiant love. Not the love they want, but the Love they need. Let's not be known for what we hate, but what our hearts desire; Love Himself. Let's be known for the Love that breaks through the darkest nights, and sets even the most bound-up captives free. Let's be like that city on a hill, not the negative comments on a Facebook status. Let's hug when we want to hide. Let's run forward when we want to retreat. Let's fight like our lives depend on it... because truly they do.
Oh, how different life would be if instead of holding up cardboard signs with angry words and vengeful spirits, we held up each other with compassion, truth, and tranquility.
Maybe we've messed up and missed our chances before, but every day holds the potential for the impossible. This here, this historic day, is our day. It's time to live like it.
We've been handed a giant opportunity to shake up the universe. This is our moment to love deeper and greater than ever before, and do it in a way that can't be ignored. Love does win. But the Love that wins is one they've yet to see and one they don't understand. It's one that we don't even thoroughly understand. It's the Love that doesn't have to be voted on or fought for or talked about until everyone is tired of it; it's the Love that is always there and never waivers or fails. Let's lift it high and live it loud, my friends.
Here's a proposal and challenge to you, Christians, and myself: let's start a movement. Let's give them intense, burning, radiant love. Not the love they want, but the Love they need. Let's not be known for what we hate, but what our hearts desire; Love Himself. Let's be known for the Love that breaks through the darkest nights, and sets even the most bound-up captives free. Let's be like that city on a hill, not the negative comments on a Facebook status. Let's hug when we want to hide. Let's run forward when we want to retreat. Let's fight like our lives depend on it... because truly they do.
Oh, how different life would be if instead of holding up cardboard signs with angry words and vengeful spirits, we held up each other with compassion, truth, and tranquility.
Maybe we've messed up and missed our chances before, but every day holds the potential for the impossible. This here, this historic day, is our day. It's time to live like it.
"To love someone means to see him as God intended him." -Fyodor Dostoevsky
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