I have had a fine loving relationship with a human being for a number of decades. I know full well whereof I speak when I say 'love.' It isn't all fun and games in a relationship, you know. If you're not ready to deal with sickness, depression, mistakes of various kinds, financial problems and occasional inadvertent humiliation, while still seeing the person as the most wonderful human you have ever laid eyes on - and also, if you're not ready to gracefully accept the same clemency from them when you have made a mess of things - then don't speak that word.

Yes, I claim the word love, not in defiance of God, but rather because God has shown me how to make it real. The word has been made flesh. Hm, maybe I shouldn't put it that way - I think you may take that the wrong way....

Lord, send your light through us all. We are confounded over trifles while the real evil marches all around us.