Practicing love is not easy, but, “what we practice we become” – Krista Tippett

What Is The Love Practice?

Simply stated it’s learning how to love from God’s point of view. 

“We are born insecure, egocentric, fearful.  We need to be taught to become secure, unselfish, courageous.” (A.R. Bernard) 

The love practice is a framework for navigating the complexity of relationship honestly, faithfully, humbly, authentically and vulnerably. It is rooted in awareness, self-examination, reflection, reconciliation and restart.  What we see impacts our habits, shapes our heart, how we think and respond, which is the problem the ministry seeks to address.  The examples of love that shape and develop our habits are greatly influenced by culture and not by faith. 

Therein lies the challenge.  

Think about it. We live in a self-absorbed, cancel culture where ghosting prevails, that traffics in shame, ridicule and judgement, and seeks to dismiss and devalue its opponents.

If I “have never learned to love, then I am nothing.” (‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:2‬)  

Life has been our classroom, we are the students and we have had a multitude of teachers.  J Pittman McGehee says it succinctly: “So much of what we call love isn’t; but rather it is neurotic projections, exploitations, manipulations and abuses.”   Suffice it to say,many of us have been mis-educated about love.

Additionally, what makes loving hard is the fact that it’s not just about you; it involves others.

This is why we practice. 

As love’s humble students the practice offers us the opportunity to re-learn what love REALLY is so we can reflect it in our lifestyle.  

In our willingness to examine our own self, we create the space to heal and grow as we increase our capacity to love so we can be transformed. With an open heart the practice begins to change the way we see so we notice God in ourselves and each other, and in so doing, position ourselves as His vessels of love here on earth.  

Love isn’t something natural. Rather it requires discipline, concentration, patience, faith…. It isn’t a feeling, it is a practice.

Erich Fromm

What differentiates a love practice from its yoga and meditation counterparts is its interconnectedness. Not only must we manage ourselves and our connection to the Divine, but we must also navigate our encounters with others; a complex and intricate dance.  Love is indeed a spiritual practice, “that opens us to God’s transforming love and the changes that only God can bring about in our lives”.  (Ruth Haley Barton);  Love is also our intention as we arrange our lives for what our hearts desire most: deeper, richer, expansive love🙏🏽 

We cherish you as a part of our beloved community.  We’re on this journey to a life filled with love together.