Faith, Hope, Love...

Jesus was (and still is) the master teacher. Or it could be said he is The Master, and Teacher. I marvel at many of his answers to the Pharisees, Sadducees, and prominent people of his day.

1 Corinthians 13:1 "If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. 2) And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3) And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing."

I Corinthians 13 is designated as the great 'love' chapter in the Bible. At one time the ability to be a brilliant orator was a sought after gift. Scripture is often held up as an example of quiet elegance, and this passage shows why. It speaks to the heart, mind and soul.

I don't claim a wonderful faith. My faith at times falters, yet I do cling to hope, like a bungee jumper on my way down. And love? That's sometimes difficult. As a meme I read recently says, 'Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you—not because they are nice but because you are.'

Sometimes on our journey things get crazy, sometimes people become a little bit lost. I was thinking on this after listening to Allan Jackson's 9-11 song and the idea of three things Jesus taught us about faith, hope, and the greatest is love. In many ways our lives will never be quite the same.

Like a time/space shift we all lost some of our innocence that day. I remember watching as people went from hospital to hospital searching for loved ones. Some loved ones were found and some were not.

Even though some things were lost other things were found. The giving spirit that is so much a part of American culture. In the moments of crisis, men and women rushed back into danger to help rescue as many people as they could. Some called on God out of profanity, and some called on God in prayer. Many people sacrificed time, talent, and possessions to help strangers, even to the giving their own blood.

When we see tragedies in other countries we don't often see the people in other nations so committed in helping their own countrymen, and even less do they help other countries in their crises. Indeed, the greatest is love...

1 Corinthians 13:13 "But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love."