By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

John‬ ‭13‬:‭35

Nobody likes an a-hole.

Sure, we laugh alongside them sometimes. And we tiptoe around them at others. We tolerate the jerks of the world. Maybe too much.

But at the end of the day, how often have we been that person?

Trying to appease our own low self-worth, we lash out most efficiently with underhand comments, sly remarks, sarcasm and a biting cynicism.

We feel obligated to cut through the noise with a bit of our own, and we are satisfied for a moment or two. But this is chasing the wind.

We will be defined by our posture. Will we be sideways, elusive and rowdy? Or we be vulnerable, honest and caring?

Love has been said to conquer all, and it did.

Are we tapping in to that free gift to pay it forward?

The extent to which I exercise love towards my fellows is a good test for how spiritually fit I am. My tolerance of shortcomings should be a natural out-flowing of my own self reflection.

But, I’m lazy. I’d rather not have to fool with addiction or recovery sometimes. But we’re all hooked on something and we all drift from Him. Rather than compare vices and bemoan where He has put me, I am at my best when I don’t look too far in the future, too much at the actions of others or too little at my own attitude.

I’ve been forgiven of much and have been loved through difficulties and heartache. Now, on the other side of the precipice of my addiction, I am must not forget. I need to look past the annoyances of this world into the hope of the next. Only then can I align myself with His will enough to love my way out of judgementalism.

God, help me hold my expectations loosely.