So today, while attending priesthood class, we had one of those rare exchanges of ideas that seldomly occur in Elder’s quorum. The instructor asked whether God’s love was different for one person or another. This question caused some in the class to stammer and clam up, while two of began a little in-class debate. Ultimately this is what we decided: God’s love is ever-present. It exists throughout the universe in its entirety. There is no variation to it, and it is available to everyone. That being said, we then discussed why it is that some have more than others. We decided that it is due to circumstance and choice. Our circumstances dictate which of the environmental blessings we can enjoy: places of birth, gene pools, educational possibilities, etc. These are things we cannot always control. But the most far reaching difference between each of us is our ability to tap into the love that God has for us. It is our choices that limit our capability to receive and enjoy the fullness of His love. He does not hold himself back…we keep Him out. He has a set of laws, and along with those laws he has promised certain blessings for our obedience to them. Thus, when we obey Him, we lessen the restraints that keep us isolated from the greater experience of His love.
I began thinking, on my own, how this relates to our love, and determined that love is limited in 2 ways. To start, let me declare that love is love. If we love, we love. There is no variation in our love, but all love is conditional. And here are the 2 ways love is conditioned: by our own ability to love and by another’s ability to receive it. If we are so self-absorbed and uncaring that we cannot function at the greater levels of love, we will not be able to demonstrate them. Is our love still existent? Of course, but it may never extend beyond Tolerance or Appreciation. Certainly we will Respect some things, but if we do not open ourselves to the greater powers of love, we cannot demonstrate them. And what about another’s inabiliity to receive our love? Just like God’s love, all love exists, but is conditioned upon there being something to love. God’s love is available to all because he loves all His creations and wants what is best for them. Our love, in a similar way, is available to all those things that we find attractive and beneficial. If we do not like something (such as it not exhibiting the qualities we admire or respect) it will not warrant our love. It can clamor, it can struggle, it can attempt to force our love, but until and unless it displays those things we choose to love, it will not be worthy or able to receive our love.
I don’t know if anybody else can possibly understand what this all means, but I find it phenomenal.
