Today, I Choose Love

There seems to be nothing but fear all around us.

From the unexplained things that go bump in the night and the imagined situations that clutter the day to the newest sound bite from the loudest voice pointing out the next and newest source of anxiety, life is full of fear. 

That is the poisonous mixture found in the snake oil we have been sold?

That is the pot of stew for which we have traded the promise?

Despite what the hawkers say the snake oil leaves behind nothing more than a vile odor. 

Despite how good the stew might taste going down it cannot satiate the hunger that inevitably returns.

In a culture dominated by fear,

perhaps it is time. 

Time for a different story. 

Time to choose "the more excellent way."

Today, I choose love. 

Love instead of hate. 

Love instead of misrepresentation. 

Love instead of othering. 

Love instead of objectification. 

Love instead of seeing the speck in your eye when I have a log in my own. 

Love instead of crossing to the other side of the street. 

Love instead of "I'm not a racist but..."

Love instead of "Did you hear that she..."

Love instead of ignoring hate speech and odious rhetoric. 

Love instead of that divisive post that just popped up on the newsfeed. 

Love instead of nationalism. 

Love instead of religousity. 

Love instead of denying the privilege which I have been afforded. 

Love instead of considering whether there is anything in it for me. 

Love instead of telling someone how they should feel. 

Love instead of worrying about the gender of the person in the next stall. 

Love instead of deciding who gets what rights. 

Love instead of not demanding the same rights for everyone. 

Love instead of self righteous indignation. 

Love instead of dehumanization. 

Love instead of inaction. 

Love instead of sitting down when I should stand. 

Love instead of standing when I should sit. 

Love instead of being silent when I should speak. 

Love instead of speaking when I should simply shut the hell up.

Love instead of fear. 

Love instead. 

Yes, this is an incredibly risky proposition. But consider where the alternative has led. Fear has no answer for that which ails us. Only love has anything to say. And there is no fear in love. For love that is perfected in us casts out all fear (see 1 John 4). 

Today, I will do my best to live into this promise. 

And after failing and falling often, I will get up and try again tomorrow. 

Today, I choose love. 

What would you add to this list of "Love instead..."?