Love conquers.

Tomorrow is the celebration of an event that — like so many others — has been dwindled down to pastel colors, spring fever, colored eggs, furry, cute field animals, and the second (only to Halloween) highest candy selling holiday of the year.

But it is truly so much more than that. Jesus Christ, the Son of God rose from death to life. The crazy part is that this isn’t some whimsical fairy tale that your children will make play of. No, this true, amazing, celebratory story is one of betrayal between friends, darkness, treachery, and death. With each passing year, as God draws me closer into Him, only then am I better able to understand the gravity and realness of Easter Sunday. The family get togethers are fun, the food is always delicious, and this girl never gets enough Reese’s easter eggs, Cadberry eggs, or Robins eggs…but when the lights are brightened and my heart and eyes focus right…the cross is the most magnificent work of love I can ever try to imagine…

…and the only thing that matters.

To get into the theology and incredibly intricate details of this event would only magnify my inept ability to do Jesus justice and would also probably lose some of you in making my point. 

My point is this: The pinnacle of the Easter message is LOVE. Huge LOVE. Crazy LOVE. Fierce LOVE. Self-sacrificing LOVE. Pure LOVE. Grace-filled LOVE. Overwhelming, triumphant LOVE. 

Before his death on the cross Jesus says (John 13:34&35) : 

 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

In case you missed it: Jesus died for his disciples. And for us. His commandment is simple: Love each other as He has loved. We (generally) do not even have to face physical death for others, but instead death to our selfish egos and pride. A simple enough concept, but the furthest thing from easy.

I have been reflecting a lot on love this week. What it means. What is looks like. 

And I must be honest with you that at the same time that the overwhelming, awesome love of Christ can bring me to my knees in joyful tears, the way the love of Christ is tainted by our broken world hurts me.

In light of my own experiences these past few months and the social-political debate that is raging on my facebook newsfeed I would like to say this:

As a person who carries the titles of “Christ-follower” and “Christian” around, I would like to apologize for when I get this wrong. 

IT DOES NOT DIMINISH THE REALITY OF CHRIST’S TRUE, BIG, ALL-CONQUERING, LOVE FOR YOU. 

It means: I am human. Sometimes I suck.

In Donald Miller’s Blue Like Jazz there is a scene where the small Christian sect of a liberal college campus sets up a confessional booth and instead of what is anticipated, the Christians apologize for all that they have done to insult others. As both a Christian and one who has been hurt by Christians — I firmly hold that this is brilliant. 

So I ask you to remember today and tomorrow that this celebration is all about love. To my fellow friends who carry the label “Christian” around, be careful. Do not delude yourself into believing that you are better. Do not try to hide behind feaux smiles pretending that you have something someone else does not. 

You are not better. We are all the same human flesh. We all come from the same fallen line.

Selfish pride, selfishness, lack of grace, lack of mercy…they never conquered anything.

Hate does not conquer hate. Only love conquers hate. 

I love you. Genuineness is amazing.

To those of you who do not carry this same label. I hope that you know someone, soon meet someone, stumble across someone, happen to develop a relationship with someone who shows you that selfless, amazing, inviting, warm love that lets even your bones know you are so deeply loved and cherished.

Because you are, fully, completely, and wholly magnificently loved.

I love you.

I leave you with this gem — Be blessed and celebrate.