This week the words of 1 Corinthians 13 have been doing laps inside my head. I have been well aware of love in my life and the nature of love generally and the profound need to be loving in all things with the (very often) difficult students in my charge. Putting all of this together in a little thing I call my life, I have found my brain chasing around the poetry of 1 Corinthians 13. Being a woman of my times, I googled the text rather than reached for the Revised Standard Version of the Good Book that I call home.
I was delighted when I came across "Bible in Basic English" at biblos.com because it startled me. The replacement of "patient" with "never tired of waiting" stopped me in my tracks. I like to think I'm patient but I am in no way capable of any kind of waiting. How humbling. Check out love in basic English:
1.Love is never tired of waiting;
2. love is kind;
3. love has no envy;
4. love has no high opinion of itself;
5. love has no pride;
6. love's ways are ever fair;
7. it takes no thought for itself;
8. it is not quickly made angry,
9. it takes no account of evil;
10. it takes no pleasure in wrongdoing,
11. but has joy in what is true;
12. love has the power of undergoing all things, having faith in all things, hoping all things.
13. Though the prophet's word may come to an end, tongues come to nothing, and knowledge have no more value, love has no end.
Rating my ability to love on a scale of 1 to 13--well, I'll admit I'm no 13! If you are never tired of waiting, I'll never tire of trying....
47 Comments
Three passes already reading this before I could find a comfortable place to reside in your last line. It is not that it does not make sense in the context of a wonderful accounting of love. But I found myself needing to let your final words linger a bit to appreciate them in your own voice. Patience and resilience are good partners, I think.
ReplyDeleteSimply beautiful, Sandy - Peace - D
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful post.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
ReplyDeleteLovely post,Sandy!~
ReplyDeleteWouldnt it be great if LOVE followed the rules?? It doesnt always work out that way but wouldn't be great if it did:) Happy TT my friend.
ReplyDeleteI was moved to read this passage at my Mom's memorial service in 1989 and it's been one I return to again and again. This 'Basic English' translation is one I'm going to copy & print out to keep in my journal ... just because. Thank you so much for finding and sharing it with us this week.
ReplyDeleteHugs and blessings,
I keep I Cor. posted on my fridge, I often need reminders. Happy TT.
ReplyDeleteI used to have this one memorized for passage meditation, a slightly different version. I hear it at weddings a lot too.
ReplyDeletesimplifying or putting it in different words purifies a lot of meaning. an illusive goal love that becomes pure charity and service to all...
ReplyDeletewe need a lot of people like you sandy. it's good to know that you rate yourself 13.
ReplyDeleteYou know...by the time I got to the last entry...I had chills down my spine. These were incredible. Thanks Sandy!
ReplyDeleteHere is my list:
http://gnosticminx.blogspot.com/2008/09/shanghai-surprise-13-things-about.html
Love is a lot harder than it looks like from the outside.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite
ReplyDeleteVery good
SJR
The Pink Flamingo
Nice...I needed this today...sometimes it's tough living with a thirteen year old. :(
ReplyDeleteI found your revelation very humbling and think I'll check it out in a different version too.
ReplyDeleteYou helped someone today.
Most Awsome, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteNo one can NOT get tired of waiting except God -- that's why His love is so special. He loves us in spite of ourselves. We are truly blessed! His love is perfect.
ReplyDeleteI would say no one can ever reach all 13. We always need something to try for - to better ourselves as people.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful T13. Happy T13. Mine are up at a Daily Dose.
ReplyDeleteToni
A Daily Dose of Toni
MomDot
The other day I read on a blog that beauty was love in another form, this sounded good to me.
ReplyDeleteNice post Sandy!
I have to say, I prefer the poetry of the King James version, but the meaning is still there.
ReplyDeleteThat's really cool. I'm going to look for a bible in basic English for myself. Happy TT!
ReplyDeleteVery nice. I need to post those in my house right now. I think to teach the kids, but I need them, too. They are just kids.
ReplyDeleteThey hate me for making them share rooms, lol. They need to learn love, which will happen through sharing rooms.
Sounds very good ! now I ask myself am I able to love ?? (grin*)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Sandy. I love 1 Corinthians 13. Through the years I have often measured what I was about to do or say against it, and realized that when I choose to be irritable with my children (for example), I AM NOT loving them.
ReplyDeleteVery humbling; very helpful. :)
What a beautiful thoughtful event just occurred. Thank you Sandy.
ReplyDeleteSandi
Lovely passage! Thanks for the serene and beautiful respite (and thanks for visiting my TT)
ReplyDeleteI use no Bible other than the Kind James because it is the closet transcribed version to the original Greek and Aramaic Bibles.
ReplyDelete"Love does not seek it's own."
My TT is up at 13 Myths about Barack Obama
it's also my favorite bible verse.
ReplyDeleteI love this post. It brings the sweetness of this scripture to everyone, and gives us all something to want in our lives. It isn't so easy when we TRY to love with our own hearts, especially to love the unloveable, or the person who has hurt or harmed us, but with God all things are possible...this is the love of 1 Corinthians 13.
ReplyDeleteThe love of God is special indeed.
ReplyDeleteI think it cannot be described with words: it's above any human definition.
Those are written so I can never stop striving to achieve. I'm a true believer in love.
ReplyDeleteI really do need more patience. Sigh. A good reminder.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Love is a beautiful word!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my TT!
Lovely post, Happy TT =)
ReplyDeleteAwesome TT post. I love that interpretation of patience.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully put. And like you, I am not a 13. I'll keep trying... :0)
ReplyDeleteHappy TT.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.apooobooks.com/2008/09/24/thursday-thirteen-9-head-classfreedom-read/
I never tire of waiting for my children to be happier than they are. Especially my slightly wayward son. I want it to happen in the next three minutes... but, I'll never stop waiting, and believing, and supporting even the most meager effort on his part.
ReplyDeletePerhaps that isn't as loving as it sounds. Perhaps love should expect the highest behavior from those we love and not accept anything less. I've often told my children something to that effect. A truly good friend is not one who accepts you the way you are. It's one that sees you as you could be and encourages you to be that person.
My thoughts are so often full of contradictions. It's a wonder I have any peace at all. But somehow, I do.
Beautiful words, aren't they. Thank you for sharing. I'll send a link of your post to my guy :)
ReplyDeleteI am convinced you are a very patient person! :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post to ponder. Very humbling.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this list :) Happy belated TT and I hope you have a wonderful weekend :)
ReplyDeleteI will keep waiting if you keep trying!
ReplyDeleteHow well I know these words.They give such peace and love. Beautiful photo. Thank you for reminding me of the power of love. Thank you.
ReplyDeletelove-bd
Lovely thought to be swirling around your mind! Very inspiring post.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being here.