Marti Miller-Willoughby contributing writer
Let There Be Love
F ebruary always brings with it a turn toward the affairs of the heart . It ’ s the month we focus on all things heart related – whether it is “ heart ” as in caring for that most important muscle of our body and protecting it from disease and dysfunction , or “ heart ” as in love and romance and sweet valentines ( and candy – oh yes , there must be chocolates – good for the heart , right ?). Either way , it centers on love and how , with proper care and attention , we can live in it most fully .
While trolling around my tiny brain cavity for thoughts on February love ( and marriage ), the phrase “ let there be love ” abruptly tickled my left ear . I ’ m not exactly sure from whence that tickling thought originated , though I ’ m rather certain it was not through my usual spontaneous combustion of weird words and ideas .
Whatever the origin , I plugged the phrase into my electronic brain storage device ( aka Google ) and was immediately directed to not one , not two , but three song lyrics from three vastly different artists – Nat King Cole , the British group Oasis , and Christina Aguilera . Oh boy . Oh joy . I ’ m on to something here now ! But wait … there are four ! Simple Minds also put out a tune with the same title . Wow . Might be on to something here ? Like maybe “ let there be love ” is about as original and mind-boggling a thought as “ let there be donuts ” or “ let there be a parking space close by ”.
Turns out that all four songs of the same title have very different takes on the phrase , “ let there be love ”. And isn ’ t that the way of love , after all ? We each take from and bring to love something just a wee bit different . Makes for an interesting life for us though , doesn ’ t it ? The language of love is often misinterpreted between those who desire to love each other most . As the theory goes , we give love in the way we desire to receive it – it just doesn ’ t always work out that way .
As a second time married person , I have discovered once again that men generally see things in a more logical , yes / no or black / white way . Women tend to see the same things in a more emotional , maybe-centered or grayish way . This is not rocket science . It is a simple matter of how we are wired for life . If there is a problem in marriage ( or dating or engagement ), each person brings a different perspective to the solution table . And that ’ s perhaps why there are at least four versions of “ Let there be Love ” floating around . We want so much to get it right .
Being much older this time around , and so grateful for that second chance at love , I just knew it would be different . WRONG . Or maybe I ’ m the only wrong one here , but that ’ s so lonely . I need to have a partner in crime in this “ let there be love ” thing . It ’ s scriptural – love your neighbor as yourself is , after all , the second greatest commandment . So why do I keep struggling ? It ’ s a question for professionals perhaps , or it could be that competitive stubbornness keeps begging for attention . Let ’ s hope not .
Biblically , we have a solid foundation of what love is , if only we could fully understand the verses that speak of it so eloquently . It is , after all , a verb . Not a feeling . Our feelings often muddle the truth of love . I Corinthians 13:4-8 spell out what it is and is not . “ Love suffers long and is kind ; love does not envy ; love does not parade itself , is not puffed up ; does not behave rudely , does not seek its own , is not provoked , thinks no evil ; does not rejoice in iniquity , but rejoices in the truth ; bears all things , believes all things , hopes all things , endures all things .
28 FEBRUARY 2017 SHEMAGAZINE . COM