Monday, December 8, 2014

Ironic Body Armor

As I was reading today's scriptures from the Daily Office (Psalm 25, Isaiah 5:8-23, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Luke 21:20-28), a phrase from the Epistle (letter) stood out.

"Wear faithfulness and love as a piece of armor that protects our body...." (1 Thess. 5:8 CEB)

The verse goes on to also mention wearing salvation like a helmet, so my immediate reaction was to think about Paul's (the author) more extensive use of this metaphor in another letter he wrote (Ephesians).  Paul wrote this letter (1 Thessalonians) several years before he wrote the other one (Ephesians), which means this description was an early version of his thinking on these ideas, and the Ephesians passage is a much more detailed, more fully developed thought.  But in that description he doesn't use the term love in his descripition of armor.  

Put love on as armor.

That seems like an oxymoron to me (which may be why he didn't use it later).  Wearing love doesn't seem like protection.  In fact, it seems like just the opposite!  When we love, we open ourselves up to risk, because real love requires vulnerability.  

But the fact that love is described here forces us to think.  

Which makes me think of a deep reservoir and my marriage.  

After almost 25 years of loving Jo, I have developed a very deep reservoir of love for her.  As a result, when bumps in the relationship road come along (which they do, because this is real life), there is a lot of depth and grace from which to draw.  The depth of our love actually serves as a protector for us - almost like armor.  It softens the blows of life.  It deflects the hurts that get hurled.  And it quickly serves as salve in the wounds.

Maybe love can be a powerful protector.  I just have to be willing to risk and love enough!

Thankfully, Advent is a reminder that Love has come and is coming!

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