“Our loves are formed by our daily liturgies.”- Ann Voskamp
“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken.”- C. S. Lewis
In Chapter 8 (“Why Love is Worth Breaking Your Heart”) of The Broken Way, Ann Voskamp provides the sole way to rise to the beauty of love. That way? Rise and serve. Therefore, Ann suggests, intentionally travel the road of the abundant life. First, you risk brokenness. Second, you love the right things in the right ways.
However, Ann cautions, we must demonstrate conscious awareness of what we love. The author explains:
“You are whatever you love. . . . at your very essence, not what you think, but what you love.”
In other words, what we love most compels us. As a result, you ultimately find your real self in giving. Jesus said in Matthew 16:25, “Whoever loses their life for me will find it.” Consequently, Ann lists what matters most in the act of loving:
- we become more like the givenness of Love Himself
- in loving, we change (bonus if other people change as well)
- in sacrificing to love someone, we become more like Someone
Sometimes not risking anything means actually risking everything. We must remember the reward of loving = the joy of loving itself (emphasis Ann’s). Sadly, we often give away our lives to insignificant things. Therefore, we fail to realize our subconscious love for those meaningless things. In contrast, Ann notes, pouring out love makes your life success-full (emphasis author’s).
In conclusion, Ann notes, “love defies logic and keeps on loving when it makes no sense.” That defines the essence of love. Faith and love need practice in the “vulnerable communion of brokenness and givenness.” Love or war, Ann states the answer remains the same: I surrender. Hence, love compels us. Giving away your heart heals your heart. Furthermore, sacrificing ourselves guarantees we discover the depths of our best and truest selves.
Today’s question: Describe your daily liturgies. Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Leave your worries with God”
