Do you remember that song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David back in 1965? "It's the only thing that there's just too little of, What the world needs now is love, sweet love, no not just for some but for everyone."
I thought of that song this week as I listened to the news, heard the members of Congress, heard the reports of empty store shelves, cargo ships waiting to be emptied, the disaster at the southern border, price of gas and on and on. What is going on in this great United States of America? Here I am, 85 years old, living through WW II, Korean War, Vietnam, the Sixties, economic ups and downs, Cuban Missile Crisis, President Kennedy assassination, 9/11, fifteen Presidential terms from FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, LBJ, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush (41), Clinton, Bush (43), Obama, Trump to Biden,.......and yet never experiencing such governmental breakdowns, confusions and untruths.
Is this a time we need a total nationwide transformation? The hatred we see publicly displayed in our federal government is shameful. Was it always this way or we just didn't know? Or has this just risen in our day. I am reminded that history books tell me the hatred and dissension leading to the Civil War was harsh, pitting families apart, leading to a war losing thousands of our young men and ending in a bitter surrender. History records 625,000 war deaths and 1,500,000 casualties in the Civil War. Many died, not from combat, but from disease and malnutrition. The Civil War was horrendous.
I mention that song about 'love'. Whatever happened to love, respect and common sense? "What the world needs now is love" was written back in 1965 but certainly is needed today.
What is love? Is it the sexual urge that we feel toward a person of the opposite sex? Is it that overwhelming joy we have experienced when birthing a baby? Is it the deep gratitude knowing our adult children are happily married? Is it the intimacy with a close friend who knows me, understands me and supports me? Love is all the above and more.
Love is an amazing power, emotion, and belief. Where does love come from? Was love always here in our human senses or was it given to us in a specially gifted way??
God is love. 1 John 4:8 states, "He who does not love does not know God; for God is love." Also 1 John 4:16 "So we know and believe the love God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him." Love is another special gift God has given us. If this gift comes from God, why don't we express it all the time? Of course we live in a fallen world and we are sinful people who don't always act in love. But if we obediently follow our Creator, love would prevail. Never forget, the most powerful message of love is John 3: 16.
An important display of love is forgiveness. How easy it is to remember those people who have emotionally hurt us. We carry that hurt for years. What about times when someone cheated us in a money scam. That sure hurt. There are many unfortunate displays of bad behavior in our society these days. But how should we respond? How about 'forgiveness'? Sometimes that is painful but I know we feel better. I had a situation where a relative turned against me in a financial situation. At first I demanded my rights but when that proved impossible I had to let things go and forgive the individual. His response was not good, but I felt better. We forgive but we don't forget. And 'forgiveness' is what God wants us to do because 'forgiveness' shows love.
Yes, I am most grateful I know love, have been loved, am now loved, and I myself easily love others. I am an emotional, sensitive person and I don't mind showing my love to friends and relatives openly and enthusiastically. Why hold back? Show love in your expression, your hugs, your approval, your outspoken words of support, your joy, your smile, your laughter. So many ways to show love and this culture needs an outpouring of love now! Hum along "What the world needs now is love, sweet love" and your heart will radiate that love to others.
