Like Jesus Did

Jesus, the way I understand him, was a really cool cat. The coolest really. Long haired, hippy freak type who probably would have voted to legalize marijuana, legalize gay marriage, open up the borders, abolish the death penalty, increase the minimum wage, and encourage educators to teach world religion and evolution in the same classroom. He lived for inclusion. He lived for relationship with others. Relationship, connectedness with people, was like air or water for him - a necessity. But not for himself. No, he was a truly selfless human. He sought out others for them for their needs. He wanted the best for others. Never was he judgmental. Any advice he gave about thoughts or feelings or behaviors, was for the benefit of others and not for himself. He met folks wherever they happened to be in their life and loved them just as they were. He didn't say, "change this, change that and then I'll love you". Nope. He just loved unconditionally. That's really hard to do by the way. Don't we all have expectations or requirements where others are concerned? Don't we all have preconceived notions or ideas about how others should look or dress or act or think? And when folks don't live up to those expectations, don't we dismiss them, walk away or let them be? All the while thinking. . . I can't, I won't love you. You just don't measure up! You're just not what I need in my life the way you are. Not Jesus. He wasn't that way. Not in the least. He sought out the sickest, the wicked, the evil, the lost and broken and said, "hey, friend, yeah you, you are special, you are unique, you are one of a kind and I need relationship with you". Can you imagine? Can you imagine someone needing you. . . just the way you are. . . all the good and all the bad. . . not asking you to conform or change in any way? Just be you and let me love you as you are. Pure, real, unconditional lover of souls - all souls. That's who Jesus was. That's who Jesus is. He was and is love. A little scary, huh? This man loved us - all of us - without condition - and then he laid down his life for us. It's hard to accept that we can receive pure love - no strings attached - because our human (fallible) minds convince us that we aren't worthy. Our human-ness stands in the way. Our flawed thinking convinces us that the world isn't capable of giving or receiving such an unassuming, amazing love. Only God - the one perfect being - is capable of such a love. Or so we tell ourselves. But human Jesus was capable. And if he was capable, then why aren't we? Or are we? Maybe if we all seek relationship with others for others - putting their needs ahead of our own - we could learn to love a pure and selfless love. . . like Jesus did.