The Greatest Thing You'll Ever Learn...

...is just to love, and be loved in return.

This, of course, is a quote from Moulin Rouge, one of my favorite musicals starring Nichole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. The first time I heard that line, I knew that the raw truth behind it would be with me the rest of my life. However, what I did not forsee was how many ways it would touch me.

I look at this lesson in two parts. First: "to love" and second: "be loved in return". First, lets look at the ability and power "To Love". In my opinion, this is by far the easiest of the two lessons. I live to love. My family, my friends, my passions. Each and everything I love, I love fully and with a passion that is my driving force. Despite this, I still have more to learn about love. Currently, our church (Powhatan Community Church) is running a series on "Relationships That Rock". Thus far, the teachings have taught me a thing or two about loving without condition. Love, indeed, is a many splendid thing.

Now, for the far more challenging and probably more important, "To Just Be Loved In Return". To feel the love of another is a powerful feeling, a wonderous, warm, and fulfilling set of emotions that just make you want to love even more. It is a flow, a balance that is hard to find but vital to any relationship. Sir Paul McCartney once wrote "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make". With this argument in mind, in order to be able to expand your ability to love, you must allow yourself to be loved. Furthermore, consider the one you love. if you do not allow them to love you and show you that love, then are you not stopping them from learning lesson #1? Afterall, if you truly love them, you would not want to hinder thier lessons in life and love, and to feel the beauty of being able to love with all of thier conviction?

Love, and just be loved in return.

I think I've got it, at least in my personal relationships with physical beings.

Now for the hardest part of this lesson for me. My relationship with Jesus. Again, it is easy to love Jesus. The hard part is accepting his love unconditionally. It is hard to believe that no matter what, Jesus really does love us. Romans 8:35 tells us "Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”[n]) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us". I have read this so many times now, it is almost committed to my memory.

But the truth is, to surrender myself to the love of Jesus is a lesson I am desperately trying to learn. As many of you know, me and my family are on the verge of losing everything. Starting tomorrow actually and the scriptures tell me to trust in Jesus for he will provide. Jesus will help us find the things we need to survive.

I have to say, I have seen this in action. Our friends at PCC have been doing Gods work by picking us up and providing all of our needs while we wait on the red tape that is binding all of our resources. They have provided us with so many blessings, I have been simply overwhelmed by the love of a God that, through others, have made sure my children are well fed; that my wife has her medicine that helps keeep her alive; and that provides transportation so that we can do what needs to be done when it needs to be done. So why is it, here in our darkest hour, that I still let fear rule me and I do not allow myself to bask in Gods love? Why is it that I deny God the ability to let his love flow through me like a river, cool and refreshing?

Like I said, this is a lesson I must learn, and hope to learn fast. I love God. I love Jesus. Completely. It is easy to do and not just because we are supposed to. However, to allow myself the full glory of his love, and to trust his love, is my daily struggle.

I guess Lennon / McCartney said it best when they said "All You Need Is Love"

The Whispering Pond by Tracy Buetow (my lovely wife)

Sad little girl at the tip of the whispering pond. She looks down into the dark reflection and sees the sky in her eyes. A feather is resting in her small hand, but blows away in the wind.

Help me rest in the unmovable.

Laughter mixed with sweet sighs of relief, toned in hues of pink and blue. Streaming waves of oil bonding to toes garnished with rings of forgiveness. Red is filling the path before this that is so innocent.


Help me give it all to the love from above.


Here in the gateway between loss and gain, we are washed in the pouring rain. With a sense of endless life, a guide in the confusion, tossed but not fallen, sinking but never drowned.


Help me to be baptized in the truth sometimes known as Jesus.


I take her into my arms and whisper “I love you”. We know now a Father who is untouched by the greed of this pain and together we believe. Torn from the womb of grievance and spinning in the mystery of a love that does not leave us.


Help me to know I am complete.