“Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy. Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me.”
Do you recognize this quote? If you are a fan of The Office, you’ll instantly remember these are the words of the most unforgettable boss, Michael Scott. Years ago for my birthday, my sister Delilah gave me a birthday card picturing Michael Scott that when opened would play an audio clip of this quote. I loved this card. It stayed in my room for years. Every time I opened it, I laughed. Delilah knew when she gave it to me that it would bring me joy.
It’s hard to believe it, but Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. This holiday that emphasizes love is a good time to share a greeting of love with the people in our lives. It’s a nice thing in the middle of winter to set aside a time for paper hearts, boxes of chocolates, and short silly poems that bring a smile. And especially this year as the whole world continues to journey together through the pandemic, it’s important to reach out to people and say…
“I see you, I love you.”
Saying “I love you” can sometimes be an awkward thing. While the sentiment is there and is very true, it doesn’t always feel right to say. Also, the words can mean very little if not backed up with real action. Mr. Fred Rogers provides some help in this area. Mr. Rogers sings a song that says…
There are many ways to say, 'I love you'
There are many ways to say, 'I care about you'
Many ways, many ways
Many ways to say, 'I love you'
Cleaning up a room can say, 'I love you'
Hanging up a coat before you're asked to do it
Drawing special pictures for the holidays
And making plays
You'll find many ways to say, 'I love you'
You'll find many ways to understand what love is
Many ways, many ways
Many ways to say, 'I love you'
I wonder how God might be leading you to do this? How is God calling you to say “I love you” to someone perhaps without actually saying the words?
The Office depicts a community of people and their everyday work lives together in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It’s hilarious watching Michael Scott try to lead. He so often makes huge mistakes, but its apparent throughout the series that he has a lot of love for the people he works with. Over time Michael falls in love with Holly and wants to propose to her. In sitcom-land of course nothing is ever simple and Michael is faced with a dilemma. Holly has recently learned that her aging parents need her attention in Colorado. Michael proposes to Holly in front of the entire office staff and then announces they will be moving to Colorado. The expressions of love abound— Holly’s love for her parents and decision to care for them, Michaels love for Holly and his willingness to move. What’s really inspiring however is how Michael says goodbye to the people in the office. He writes each of their names on a piece of paper and then proceeds to try to do something really nice for each of them. For Dwight, he plans a paintball game. For Andy, he gives him his client list. For Erin, he offers some advice. I don’t remember him ever saying to anyone in the episode “I love you,” but he certainly communicated it in very thoughtful ways.
As we approach Valentines Day, I invite you to make a list of people in your life and then do something that says to those people “I love you.”
God is love. Its all throughout the Bible. Love is the theme, the main narrative of the scriptures. Love compels Moses to lead the Israelites out of bondage. Love sustains Job in the midst of insufferable crisis. Love is what undergirds the 10 commandments. In love, a virgin girl welcomes her baby. Love calls fisherman to leave and follow. And yes love is present on a hill called Golgotha. We are called to love. Whenever we question how we can best do this, there is no better place to turn than this weeks lectionary passage. I leave it here with you and invite you to reflect and pray on this most important chapter of scripture.
The second reading from the Revised Common Lectionary for the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany, January 30th, 1 Corinthians 13 says…
If I speak in tongues of human beings and of angels but I don’t have love, I’m a clanging gong or a clashing cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and I know all the mysteries and everything else, and if I have such complete faith that I can move mountains but I don’t have love, I’m nothing. If I give away everything that I have and hand over my own body to feel good about what I’ve done but I don’t have love, I receive no benefit whatsoever. Love is patient, love is kind, it isn’t jealous, it doesn’t brag, it isn’t arrogant, it isn’t rude, it doesn’t seek its own advantage, it isn’t irritable, it doesn’t keep a record of complaints, it isn’t happy with injustice, but it is happy with the truth. Love puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for all things, endures all things. Love never fails. As for prophecies, they will be brought to an end. As for tongues, they will stop. As for knowledge, it will be brought to an end. We know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, what is partial will be brought to an end. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, reason like a child, think like a child. But now that I have become a man, I’ve put an end to childish things. Now we see a reflection in a mirror; then we will see face-to-face. Now I know partially, but then I will know completely in the same way that I have been completely known. Now faith, hope, and love remain—these three things—and the greatest of these is love.