"That’s the great thing about brothers: You make mistakes, and they still love you."
--Foreman in the "Emancipation" episode of House
Recently, I ran across a wonderful kingdom image in the "Emancipation" episode of House, Fox's television series about the aforementioned savant-but-acerbic doctor who solves the most mysterious of medical cases. Foreman, another doctor in the series, is working on a case involving a young boy and discovers his illness is related to an overdose of children's vitamins. Turns out his older brother--who loves him deeply--had been giving them to him under the mistaken belief that it would make him stronger. Foreman reassures him that his little brother will be okay, but the boy groans that his brother will hate him. Foreman smiles and tells him, "That's the great thing about brothers: You make mistakes, and they still love you." Indeed, as the two walk out of the hospital, the younger brother reaches for and holds the hand of his older brother. (You can watch the entire episode here.)
I found these scenes a beautiful echo of kingdom life. Young children have an uncanny way of demonstrating love in the most moving and purist of ways. It is no wonder to me that Jesus told his disciples that we must be as little children to enter the kingdom. There is a trust and wonder and unconditionality to their love that is breathtaking--and when I think about this, it makes it easier for me to understand Paul's description of love:
Love never gives up.I don't think we can consistently love like this unless we get how much we are loved first. Like the father rushing to meet his longed-for boy while he was yet a long way down the road. An unbridled child running to a love-brimmed father. A swirl of strong arms enveloping abandoned joy. Love. Acceptance.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies.
When we experience that, then our love for God becomes like the love demonstrated by little children--full of trust, wonder and unconditionality. And love like that can't be contained. It spills over to those around us. It looks like what Paul says.
This wasn't the first image of kingdom living I've found in this series and I'm sure it won't be the last. The series is good at telling stories, and good stories often reflect deeper truths--like love.
(Image: Fox) housectgy