“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” – 1 Corinthians 13:1
“If I … can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge … but have not love, I am nothing.” – 1 Corinthians 13:2
“If I have the gift of prophecy … and if I have a faith that can move mountains but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” – 1 Corinthians 13:2-3
“Love is patient.” – 1 Corinthians 13:1
Why did I choose this particular lighthouse for the blog topic – Love is patient?
Back in the early years of mine and hubby’s marriage, when our children were very small, we did not have much money. Our money was very tight. At that time we were living in Salem, Oregon … which was only an hour’s drive or so from the Oregon Coast. Since we didn’t have any money to take a vacation, whenever we needed a break or a “getaway” we would drive over to the coast for the day. We always took a picnic lunch with us, and we always made sure to be back home in time for dinner … that way the only thing we had to spend money on was the gas for the trip.
On the stretch of the Oregon Coast that we would visit was Yaquina Head Lighthouse. I loved lighthouses … and I longed to be able to see Yaquina Head Lighthouse. But alas, it cost money to be able to access the lighthouse. And our money was tight. We did not have the extra money to pay the fee to be able to see the lighthouse.
Love is patient.
Finally, in February of 2018 hubby and I were able to take an Oregon Coast drive from top to bottom and see all the lighthouses along the way. This time, 20 years later, we actually had the extra money to pay the fee to see the lighthouse. Here is the photo we took of the lighthouse from that visit.
I loved how grey and moody the weather was. I loved how weary and worn the lighthouse looked. This is what love feels like! Love is hard sometimes. Love isn’t always “blue skies and sunshine.”
Love is patient … even when it’s hard.
We had a second opportunity to visit Yaquina Head Lighthouse at Thanksgiving 2022. This time the weather was beautiful and sunny. The lighthouse had recently been updated with a fresh coat of paint. It’s the same view, but it almost doesn’t look like the same lighthouse.
This lighthouse, for me, represents patience. Although hubby and I were not able to see the lighthouse in the early years of our marriage, in time we did at last have the opportunity to see it … twice! Love is patient. Love hopes. Love waits. Love endures.
Continuing on …
“Love is kind.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4
Why did I choose this particular lighthouse for the blog topic – Love is kind?
To access this particular lighthouse required navigating a narrow one-lane gravel road weaving through rough lava terrain.
To drive at excessive speeds on this rough gravel road would not be kind to the rental car. Neither would driving fast be kind to the other drivers who were also trying to navigate the road. Speedy drivers would come barreling down on hubby and me and tailgate … until we found a wide-enough spot to pull over so they could pass. Tailgating someone else is not kind. Speeding past with tires throwing up gravel on the car and windows is not kind.
To access this lighthouse required kindness. Hence, why I chose to use it as the featured image for the blog topic – Love is kind.
Continuing on …
“Love does not envy.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4
Why this particular lighthouse for the blog topic – Love does not envy?
To be jealous and envious of someone else is like building a tall fortress tower against them in our soul. This particular lighthouse seemed to sum up, for me, what a tall fortress tower of envy looks like.
Continuing on …
“Love does not boast.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4
Why this particular image? Because when people boast and brag they more-or-less isolate themselves. It’s like they are standing out there all by themselves, talking about themselves, focusing on themselves … while everyone else is standing back like: “Ok, whatever. Go you, out there all about yourself.”
Boasting and bragging isolates.
Continuing on …
“Love is not proud.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4
“Love is not rude.” – 1 Corinthians 13:5
“Love is not self-seeking.” – 1 Corinthians 13:5
These instructions concerning love were written by the Apostle Paul to the people who lived here … in the ancient city of Corinth.
And God chose to include them in our Bible because he wants us to likewise gain instruction by them today … right here … right now. God wants us to love well. God wants us to love our people well.
