Love

What the world needs now is love, sweet love. . .

— Dionne Warwick (in 1963)

Specifically, it needs the love of God demonstrated in Jesus. It’s a love unconditional that encompasses all, including enemies. That easy to say and hard to do. What can we do practically? Henri Nouwen says this:

How can we choose love when we have experienced so little of it? We choose love by taking small steps of love every time there is an opportunity. A smile, a handshake, a word of encouragement, a phone call, a card, an embrace, a kind greeting, a gesture of support, a moment of attention, a helping hand, a present, a financial contribution, a visit ... all these are little steps toward love.

Each step is like a candle burning in the night. It does not take the darkness away, but it guides us through the darkness. When we look back after many small steps of love, we will discover that we have made a long and beautiful journey.