Growing up, I was taught and shown what Love was according to Biblical principles such as, “Love thy neighbor as thyself, do to others as you would have then to do you, pray for your enemies, etc ”. Teaching like this gave me a perfect concept of Love and it gave me a great sense of security. But at the tender age of 6, my older sister felt it her duty to prepare me for the reality that some people will not like me because of the color of my skin.
What? I thought, how could this be? I didn't understand what she was telling me. After prodding her for a while, seeking more clarification; I got the same answer every time, " I don't know, they just won't!" For the first time I learned the ugly, painful reality of racism which conflicted greatly with my secure notion of Love. Stunned and baffled, I was confused, saddened and angered by this news. I was left wondering why Love, with all its power, would allow such an appalling system to exist to hurt me and others like me. From that day forward, I purposed to observe and study Love to better understand its ways.
After a long journey, and still a ways to go, I find that Love's ways are most peculiar in comparison to own. It can use extraordinary methods to overcome conflicts and obstacles, but it cannot fully operate in the absence of Truth. Falsehood conflicts with Love’s ability to function optimally.There are many instances throughout history out of which conflicts have arisen to act as a catalyst for Love to show its incredible power in uniting people and inspiring them to do what was right, and Truth was present to hold the line.
Movements such as the slave revolts, woman’s suffrage, the non-violent protests lead by Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, are all fine examples of how Love was able to bring about progressive transformation in societies that were suffering. Love was the impetus that made revolution possible even necessary. In each of these cases justice was the goal Love sought to accomplish, but without the acknowledgment and submission to the Truth, (the injustice of holding people in bondage), Love may have never gotten its way.
The Civil Rights Movement is a great example of Love in action because the Truth was no longer able to be hidden when hundreds of protesters were shown brutalized, jailed, hosed and demoralized in the face of a nation, without relenting and without violence. The injustice was glaringly obvious and ignorance was on display. Love would not be satisfied until justice was heard. As people united and continually yielded their hearts and minds to the Truth of injustice, Love could not be denied. Their willingness and open mindedness helped to ascertain the Truth and Love gave them courage to change it.
In his sermon entitled, Love in Action, King writes, “The call for intelligence is a call for open mindedness, sound judgment and the Love for truth. It is a call for men to rise above the stagnation of close-mindedness and the paralysis of gullibility. One does not need to be a profound scholar to be open minded, nor a keen academician to engage in an assiduous pursuit for truth”(p. 39). King recognized we could achieve something great as a nation if we were not afraid to confront the Truth about ourselves and allow Love to graciously bring us into its marvelous light of understanding and appreciation for the diversity among us.
In the end, segregation was deemed immoral & illegal in the face of the Truth, and Love followed close behind healing, forgiving, building; helping society move in a positive direction as a model for the entire world. Only Love could have seen a far off, the potential segregation had to unite America as a nation and the impact it would have on the world stage, but it could have never been accomplished without the acceptance of the ugly Truth of segregation.
Finally, in the many years I have spent studying the character and nature of Love, I find that the acknowledgment and acceptance of Truth is the first step in getting things on course in any conflict both individually and collectively. In order for Love to perform at its optimum level, people must be willing to expose their fears and unfamiliarity with all sincerity, in an environment where Truth, with Love is endorsed and promoted. That's why, Truth is, and always will be the best friend upon which Love everlastingly leans. Ref: (King, M. L., Jr. (1963). Strength to Love (Vol. 1). New York City, NY: Harper & Row)
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Love is a concept that is peculiar in nature. It is complex, intriguing and has remarkable influence which makes it very challenging to explain. Attempting to understand this powerful entity has taken me on a journey that I set out on long ago with a desire to comprehend the nature, ability and purpose of love in our world.
After a long journey, and still a ways to go, I find that love has magnificent capabilities with overwhelming accuracy, but it is rendered utterly powerless in the absence of truth. Without truth, love cannot fully operate; falsehood conflicts with love’s ability to function optimally....hence the close relationship.
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