ICONIC Mar/Apr 2017 | Page 4

From editor

All you need is love ...

We ’ ve all heard it and have probably said it more than once . Personally , I know I ’ ve sung it more times than I can count . It ’ s a simple concept — beautiful in its minimalistic philosophy . But is it easier said than believed ? If all we need is love , why are we frantic for more of everything else ? More money , time , relationships , accomplishments …? I have found myself time after time attempting to fill different voids in my life with everything under the sun . Like most people , it ’ s not that I discredit the power of love . I think I just don ’ t always know what that means or looks like . It ’ s in those moments that I take solace in the stories like the ones featured in this magazine . The story of a father watching his own children on the brink of death . A mother watch her son lose himself , only to find himself a new creation in Christ . The story of a girl whose dreams seemed to be crumbling around her . A wife , mom , leader stare down a cancer diagnosis . In each and everyone of these stories , there was a point of redemption . There was a moment when all the calamity seemed to subside . In every single one of those moments , love ruled the day . Love brings Aaron Shust a supernatural peace , even at his child ’ s hospital bedside . Love saw CeCe Winans walk hand in hand with her son away from darkness towards a beautiful future . It was love that emboldened Carmen Justice to press on in her call to ministry , even when it didn ’ t look anything like she had planned . And again , love saw Darlene Zschech through cancer with her spirit , heart and calling intact . We all have hurts and trials and days when it ’ s easier to shut the world out instead of facing another moment of pain . And while our hurts aren ’ t the same , what is consistent is our intrinsic need for unconditional love . It ’ s how we were created . God ’ s divine mastermind engineered us to need one another — to need Him — above all else . So the next time you start humming along with the Beatles or you pick up a greeting card with that endearing nomenclature , dare yourself to believe it . Dare yourself to love more than you fear . Love more than you reject . Love as we have first been loved .

Best Caroline Lusk

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