Time Tested

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:11-13 ESV).

I recently read a wonderful little parable that brings into sharp focus the wonderful principle of the eternal nature of love:

Once upon a time, there was an island where all forces of personality and feeling lived: Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all of the others, including Love. One day it was announced to the forces that the island would sink, so all repaired their boats and left. Love was the only one who stayed. Love wanted to persevere until the last possible moment. When the island was almost sinking, Love decided he needed help.

Richness was passing by Love in a grand boat. Love said, "Richness, can you take me with you?" Richness answered, "No, I can't. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place here for you." Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by in a beautiful vessel. "Vanity, please help me!" "I can't help you Love. You are all wet and might damage my boat," answered Vanity. Sadness was close by so again Love asked for help, "Sadness, let me go with you." "Oh... Love, I am so sad that I need to be alone!" Happiness passed by Love too, but she was so happy that she did not even hear when Love called her.

Suddenly, there was a voice, "Come Love, I will take you." It was an elder. Love felt too blessed and overjoyed that he even forgot to ask the elder her name. When they arrived at dry land, the elder went her own way. Love realizing how much he owed the elder asked Knowledge, another elder, "Who helped me?" "It was Time," Knowledge answered. "Time?" asked Love. "But why did Time help me?"

Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how much Love is worth saving."

There are always those moments when we rush to judgment. Could I encourage you to slow down long enough to allow love to prevail?