Love is the Universal Language of God
Written by Keira - Indiana, USA
I am sitting in the pews of the new church my mother and I started attending. The pews are smaller, yet more comfortable than our previous church. I look to my left, past my mother who doesn’t know the colorful, yet awkward and confusing person that lives within her perfect little daughter. I watch as the small ensemble choir warm up and practice their hymns for the holiday season. I listen, and allow the dulcet tones to thrum and weave through my heart and soul. The bishop spoke of the lord’s universal language of love, and Emmanuel's journey to learn this. Love is both the key to understanding queerness as well as faith. It defines what Jesus taught us, and what humanity was born to do. As a queer individual, I can’t help but love others with my whole heart; as an individual of faith, I can’t help but love the people of God for their humanity, and who they are as individuals, no matter how they were predispositioned at birth.
Mass connected the hearts of all within that tiny church. There was love and joy woven through the hearts of all who were linked by faith, the twine tugging us forward as mass ceded, and those who were unafraid to love continued to love.
Lent was another annual occasion of self growth. My family got ourselves to practice healthy habits within the 40 days. We kept each other in check, small joys being entertained through the prospect of having better self control. Lent shows us the things we have in our life that will prosper even if other things may be tainting our soul. Our flaws are highlighted during this observed event. Love still sees through these flaws, and our love for others pushes self improvement. Personally, I want to stay healthy and happy so I can take care of those I love. Lent is a fun period of time where all who participate are growing together. As a community, we are all connected through this effort to grow and move past our vices, and to see what really matters in our fruitful lives.
I often pray for those I love. I center myself and gaze within my soul, asking God to send forth my love to those who need it. When my grandmother passed, whom I was afraid would never accept me for who I am, nor ever knew who I truly was, I still prayed for her rest. I love my grandmother, even for such flaws. Faith allows me to still feel connected towards her through the love that God casts between us, like the echo through the twine of dingy aluminum cans. I send my love to my friends, to my family, to strangers who I am fond for from afar. I mourn for those who have passed, who I couldn’t have communicated with through God’s universal language of love. Even so, such prayers make me feel connected to the lives of my loved ones.
Love connects many such communities, whether it’s within the peace of faith or the joy queerness. Nonetheless, the connection of love helps me feel like I truly belong.
