Volume 10, Issue 47
The interwoven storyline of how different emotions and applications of love impacted nominally connected friends was virtually a first of its kind. Directed and written by Richard Curtis, the success of the film was by no means assured or foreseen. The cast is anchored by all-star actors. Unproven ingenues and one child actor delivered spectacular performances that helped bind the marquee names into one single mosaic of love actually.
For this second week of Advent, what this movie represents is that the essence of joy, personified in our most intimate feelings, is our relationships with family and friends. And most importantly, experiencing this joy is totally within our own control and commitment to love one another as we love ourselves. What is most striking about this truism is not just its obviousness, but the euphoria presented is simply a matter of exercising our own free will to realize this joyful state of mind. Such an imperative does not require the cooperation of anyone else, the permission of any authority, or the act of any government.
As the state of current circumstances tends to dampen a positive outlook, political division can impede personal relationships. This divide among people is unnecessary when viewed through the lens of what really brings humanity security, the nuclear family. The American public is skeptical of all national institutions, leaders, political parties, and the collective government they represent. They have retreated into the one safe harbor wherein the individual discussion is self-sacrificing and non-self-serving. In this family forum, the solutions to societal problems are debated in the context of generational benefits. And, the underlying principles governing policy are evaluated pursuant to the priority of common sense.
Determining solutions to complicated situations are the legacy fruit of the family’s counsel adding to the joy of the decision process when the members are committed to love one another, over themselves, without priority.
Today, the state of Georgia is conducting a runoff election for the United States Senate between Senator Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker. The winner is important to political divisions driving politics in America today. The result, however, has very little to do with how citizens interact with each other as friends and family.
Government exists to facilitate the individual’s free choice decisions in pursuit of happiness. Government does not exist to make us happy. We are blessed with the authority and the power to live in perpetual joy if we will just accept the fact that our true happiness comes from loving one another. What parent isn’t joyful when their children are happy, purposeful, and fulfilled? As parents we experience this joy regardless of any other pain, physical or mental, present in our life.
Well-known television journalist Diane Sawyer interviewed many of the cast members of the movie Love Actually. Upon the film reaching new heights of annual viewership, she asked them how would you complete the sentence ‘Love actually is…?’ Many said ‘love is all around.’ Others said ‘love is everywhere.’
Emma Thompson, taking time to reflect on the question, opined, “Love is actually all that matters.”
The first week of Advent premised the Preparing for the Peace of the Lord in the Midst of Current Circumstances by illuminating the fact that a greater Kingdom awaits those who believe in the promises of the Lord. Peace is derived from understanding that the circumstances of this system of things are transient, impermanent, and not what matters.
The second week of Advent manifests the principle that true joy is available to everyone, all the time, through individual free will to love others. In this ordained recognized authority, one can find peace in the Lord, even in the midst of political division. Love is what matters.
In preparing oneself for the Good News of the season, find peace in relationships, giving of oneself to another, without reservation, knowing that such unconditional love renders greater joy in return.
My name is Marc Nuttle and this is what I believe.
What do you believe?