Love, Love, Love

"He knows a hero when he sees one. Too few characters out there, flying around like that, saving old girls like me. And Lord knows, kids like Henry need a hero. Courageous, self-sacrificing people. Setting examples for all of us. Everybody loves a hero. People line up for them, cheer them, scream their names. And years later, they'll tell how they stood in the rain for hours just to get a glimpse of the one who taught them how to hold on a second longer. I believe there's a hero in all of us, that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally allows us to die with pride, even though sometimes we have to be steady, and give up the thing we want the most. Even our dreams."

That long quote belongs to the movie Spiderman 2. It is from a scene where Peter Parker, who has lost his powers, is talking to his aunt, May. Though a strange place, I found a glimpse of Christianity buried deep in the conversation. 

Christians are called to be courageous and self-sacrificial. They are called to set examples, be heroes. Though they may not be in the limelight, often ridiculed, they are the ones that keep others honest, noble and dignified. 

I grew tired of living as a Christian. All the wonders seemed so vague and hazy. The harvest seemed minimal to none. The love that I thought I had spread came back as arrows and thorns. I simply did not want to get caught up in the human drama again, but God seems to be constantly calling out to love. 

"You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:43-47

I probably don't have anyone to call an enemy. I am not persecuted nor attacked. Yet I find it very difficult to love. 

Love, love, love. The words seem so easy hearing it from the Beatles. It seems so heavy from the Bible.