Loving Extravagantly
“We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! … until that completeness, we have three things to do: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, and love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love."
-1st Corinthians 13
I was first introduced to the term “loving extravagantly” when I bought a translation of the Bible called The Message, a little over 20 years ago. The last verse of 1st Corinthians 13 in this translation says this: “We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing God directly just as God knows us! But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, and love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love."
Loving extravagantly – what does that look like, sound like, and feel like? Bob Goff in his book Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in An Ordinary World, says that love that is a “theory” is warm and mushy and when love puts on hands and feet it can get messy and maybe even risky. When you love with your whole life – with your heart and your hands and feet – you love extravagantly and you make a difference that is palpable.
I have always loved watching how all of you at Pilgrim love each other and how you love the outreach ministries to which you are committed. I have consistently seen a willingness to care compassionately for each other and an intentional mission to reach out to those that are marginalized, feeling alone and confused, and in need of some kind of support. You have loved extravagantly for all the years I’ve known you. Your love DOES. When I see love in action I am inspired to put my love in action too. Extravagant love is contagious. Extravagant love is life changing; it is world changing.
All of the major world religions and spiritual paths teach about love. It is the universal language and extravagant love in any language is a love that does. I hear messages of extravagant love in the stories of Jesus, Gandhi, the Buddha, Martin Luther King Jr, Mother Theresa, St. Francis of Assisi, and others. They not only loved extravagantly, they lived love. They loved those who persecuted them; they loved those that others cast aside; they loved so extravagantly that many called them foolish or crazy. Extravagant love is not about wanting to fix or change people; it is simply about deciding to be with them unconditionally. Extravagant love is not something you think about; it is something you do. Extravagant love isn’t always easy; but it is always worth it. Extravagant love is not something only a few chosen ones can accomplish; it is a part of our Divine Being.
All of you beautiful people of Pilgrim are going through a tough transition. It’s been a blessing to me to be with you for this first month. I know that for many of you, it’s hard to see things clearly right now; it’s like you’re looking through a fog or a mist. There are differing perspectives and, although the future isn’t as clear at the moment as you would like it to be, you can be sure that one thing is very clear…. God is walking along side you every step of the way. Remember the Serenity Prayer and the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, as well as the teachings of Jesus that are most inspiring to you as you continue on the journey in front of you. Be gentle with yourselves and with each other and choose to trust God steadily, hope unswervingly, and love extravagantly as you bring to clarity your new vision for Pilgrim for the future.
With gratitude and love,
Linda Beushausen-Gunter