Love is for the Brave

Actually caring about people can be embarrassing. It's embarrassing when they don't seem to care as much about you, forget about you, or leave you out.  Actually loving someone can be hurtful. It's hurtful when you've been forgotten about too many times or when you've been let down.  Actually loving someone can be painful.  It's painful when you are separated from them or especially if you've lost them. 

But as I read each chapter of Love Does, it's as if every story is a year's dose of hope.  When love is shown in action, it just can't be stopped.  When passion jumps out, no one can ignore it.  

Bob Goff puts his actual telephone number in the back of the book. No, really, he does. 

Everyone I've told about this exclaims, "HOW CAN HE DO THAT?" Well, I know how… Because most people are afraid.  There are more people in the world who are afraid than those who are brave, and I bet that tons of people who would like to give Bob a ring don't.  I consider myself a mostly brave person, but when you break down moments of my life, I realize I fall so ridiculously short.  Sure I'm brave enough to kill a spider, skydive, or act in a play.  But I'm also afraid to confront people about serious issues.  I'm afraid to fail, and I'm afraid of rejection. And fear is why LOVE DOESN'T. 

I think you should also know that I've been listening to the Braveheart soundtrack (as I often do) while writing this. Oh wait -- now it just shuffled to "I am a Rock" by Simon and Garfunkel -- what an antithesis.  "I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain... And a rock feels no pain, and an island never cries."  That sounds gross. I never want to be an island.  God didn't make me love so big to be so afraid. 

"That's what love does -- it pursues blindly, unflinchingly, and without end. When you go after something you love, you'll do anything it takes to get it, even if it costs everything."  

I feel as if about a hundred 15-year-old stalkers were just created as I typed that one quote.  So you need to read the book yourself to see the context.  This is talking about real love.  For our families, our friends, orphans, neighbors... not infatuation, obsession or attraction.  That type of "love" is as distracting and tiny as the flies in William Wallace's face as he rode into battle.  Truly loving and caring is only for the brave.