I recently went to Milwaukee to visit my best friend and experienced my first Summerfest, the world's largest music festival. There I was able to sit front row for one of my favorite bands, The Mowgli's. The band's famous song, "I'm Good," calls for a love revolution. As I sat there, screaming and singing (mostly screaming) the lyrics to my favorite song, I realized that if every person heard the message of spreading the love, the world would be a much better place.
The first time I realized the significance of love in a way that can affect people's actions, was in listening to a lecture by my history professor last semester. In Dr. Fryer's "Waging Peace" course, we looked at the history of war in the 20th century, as well as the peace movements that accompanied them. We learned about Mahatma Gandhi and his message of love. We studied Nelson Mandela's determination for peace, which was rooted in love. Throughout the length of the course, I realized that love is what moved people. Love was the four-letter word that ignited a fire for people to do good in the world.
Love.
There are approximately 7.125 billion people in the world. That means there are 7.125 billion people that are capable of giving and receiving love.
In my opinion, that's a lot of potential. In a world where news is filled with tragic and horrifying events, we never hear about the acts of love that occur.
But here's the catch: We can all change that if we start a love revolution.
Love is seen everywhere around us, we just need to look around and put forth an effort to make love more evident.
There are varying definitions, degrees, and expressions of love.
The Bible is filled with quotes about love, and one in particular catches my eye because it completely encompasses what I believe is love.
"Love is patient, love is kind... It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." (1 Corinthians 13: 4-8).
The beauty of love's having so many definitions is that it makes love a simple action that every single person in the world can perform. Yes, every single person, 7.125 billion to be exact, can spread love. Love is what encompasses everything, it unites us as a human race. So spread the love everywhere you go. Love your enemy, love your best friend, love your teachers, love your neighbors, love every single person you encounter and keep spreading that love.
"Love is simple, love is easy." --The Mowgli's