I Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV) is something with which we're all familiar. It is often read at weddings. It was part of the scripture read at Lisa and I's wedding if I remember correctly. (She will remember for certain!) It's easy to think of this in terms of a husband and wife committed one to the other:

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

But, what happens when you lay that scripture across John 13:34-35, Jesus' command to love one another which typically is thought of as a call to love all others, even our enemies and even (or perhaps especially) Pre-Christians:

34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

We may talk about loving all others but do we really give them the same grace and love called for in I Corinthians 13? I am not sure that I do. Well, in fact, I am sure I don't. Something to work on as I move forward ... from the shape I am in.