part of the model

Excellent conversation with lindsinator today.

It was an excellent day at looking at life, and what's important. When talking about the 'why's' of relationships, specifically in the 'whys' and the 'hows' of them not working (assumed on the limited level of understanding and insight we have), we got on the topic of rejection. And of course, you can't talk about rejection without talking about love.

It struck me through the conversation at how incredibly similar the model of loving another person is, and how Jesus loved us. This is, of course natural. If two people genuinely love each other (to the fullest meaning of love [sacrifice]), then things work. There is room to growth, room for grace, room for failure, all humanistically speaking. But just as Jesus, who gave His life up for each of us, part of love is opening yourself up to rejection. And rejected Jesus was.

I would argue that to be rejected is the deepest form of betrayal. There is nothing less invalidating than to be told you 'are not enough,' and then to be left.

There's an interesting little verse in 1 peter that means something a bit different to me now:

^"Above all, love each other deeply,  because love covers over a multitude of sins"

The amplified says

"Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others]."

I wonder if there is a connection between loving deeply, and forgiving wholly. I wonder if i can count it as a grace that i can forgive, and remain thinking well of, wishing the best for, dare i say loving, my previous counterpart, and not be bitter. Despising the other person may seem easier in the short run, but i wonder if loving deeply is the only way to cover rejection. Its easy to love a person for all they do right, it's difficult to love someone in the midst of all they do wrong, and the wrong they do to you. 

It's just interesting to me. If Jesus risked rejection, than naturally our love would imply a risk of rejection. If Jesus told us to 'love deeply' for it' covers sin,' and His love is the pinnacle and definition of deep love, then perhaps this is the way we forgive the scars and stories in the deep places we'd rather remain hidden and forgotten. 

To love is to risk. To try and fly if you will. If you crash, hello broken. If love succeeds, it changes everything. But to fly or crash changes everything - you world view is severely altered for good, for bad, or maybe for a bit of both.

That may not be right, but it is a thought. Praise Jesus when all is said and done, and we stand in His presence where none of this earthly pain or pondering matters, it will all be well. If we suffer, we suffer for the sake of Christ, and that is achieving eternal glory for those who believe.  That is good news, and that is great hope.