When my niece arrived in this world, I would often sing to her a song from the stage production of the musical “Guys and Dolls”
I love you a bushel and peck!
A bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck!
A hug around the neck and a barrel and a heap
A barrel and heap and I’m talking in my sleep
About you, about you, about you!
I think she liked it as a child but as she grew older my singing the tune sort of embarrassed her. It is a silly love song, I know. In its silly way it illustrates a truth our nation needs to hear.
Recently, a political candidate said in a speech: “This virus, it has no eyes, and yet it knows exactly how we see each other and how we treat each other. And let’s be clear, there is no vaccine for racism.”
When I heard these words, I yelled at the TV (as I am prone to do often) – “Yes, there is! It’s called love.” Is that too simple an answer? I guess, I am a simple person, then. I know Whitney sang: “Learning to love yourself -- it is the greatest love of all.” I disagree. Self-centeredness is the villain that inhabitants the hearts of too many of our citizens.
If we are to turn around this hate-filled, angry country, we need to turn our love around. We will end racism when we place others above ourselves. I have always believed that life is a circle. If you look after and care for me and I put you first and love you above me then, both of us are loved. No one is above or below another. No one is on a higher level; we are on eye-level in our circle of love.
My Divine Father through His Spirit by the pen of the apostle Paul defines how to love:
Love is patient, love is kind
Love does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
Love does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,
Love is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.
Love never fails.
--1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Can you imagine communities were what prevails is patience and kindness. Neighborhoods were envy; boasting and self-seeking are nowhere to be found? How about cities that do not delight in evil but rejoice in the truth? Citizens who keep no record of wrongs or dishonor others? A nation that protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres in loving one another?
Our love should be measured out not by teaspoons but by bushels and pecks. Hatred and racism do indeed have a vaccine! It’s L-O-V-E!!
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