By: Dr. Dave Cornelius

Date: February 2021

 

Hello, I love you!  Most people would feel very uncomfortable if I met you and said, “I love you.”   You may look at me with raised eyebrows wondering, what is up with that guy.  I am not talking about an emotional experience of chemicals flowing through my brain and body, but the definition found in 1 Corinthians 13:1 “love is patient, love is kind.”  In this time of unrest, distrust, and tribalism, it may be the only saving grace we may have and perhaps words we can say to each other.  

 

I reflect on the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and he said, “I have decided to stick with love.  Hate is too great a burden to bear.” 

To love your neighbor as you love yourself requires that you first love yourself to have the experience of self-kindness that will allow you to share with your neighbor. You may ask, who is my neighbor?  Your neighbor is your family members, co-workers, the people in your neighborhood, and people of the world.

 

What would be our experiences in school, work, and community if love was the actions that we shared with each other?  I think that we would experience a sense of patience and kindness to treat each person as valuable. 

Who does not want to be treated as valuable?  Sign me up!

Love will help you develop empathy for others so that you may attempt to understand what it is like to walk a mile (or two) in their shoes.  Empathy is not showing pity for someone’s disposition. It shows caring and saying, “I understand” although we may not agree with the person’s behavior. 

 

I am reflecting on sharing empathy with the people that invaded the United States Capitol on January 6,  2021.  The visuals, behaviors, and desires are just gut-wrenching and unacceptable to me.  I bring this experience up because one of those invaders may be a family member, a co-worker, a neighbor, or someone sitting next to you in church.  

There has to be a way for each of us to have a conversation based on love and empathy.

Besides Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. words of wisdom, I also look to the popular song that said: 

“All you need is love. All you need is love. All you need is love. Love, love is all you need.” – The Beatles

Hello, I love you!Learn more about coaching with Dr. Dave.