How To Bring Love Into the World:
Where is (God) the Love?
by Deacon Jim Corder

Consider the question: "Where do we find God?"

Then consider that one of the most popular songs today is essentially asking the same thing.

Black Eyed Peas (along with Justin Timberlake) have a song that is one of the most popular ones out today. This song has a great message and addresses a challenge of our day: "Where is the Love?"

When we are seeking real love, we are seeking God. "God’s very being is love. ... God Himself is an eternal exchange of love, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and He has destined us to share in that exchange." (CCC 221)

The singer is frustrated with people trying to only get what they can without concern for his fellow ... (I'm starting to rap -- I should stop now). Anyway, the song touches on many issues: racism, violence (from gangs, to children, war, etc.), hypocrisy, corruption, discrimination, and greed -- just to name a few.

So how do we find what the Black Eyed Peas are trying to find in this song? Where is the Love (God)?

Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)

Three ways to find God in the world today
1) Work as though it is up to you to bring God (Love) to others.

People killin', people dyin'
Children hurt and you hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek

First, we need to ask the question, "What I can do to bring about love in the world?" Two ways we seek love and God in the world is by being persons of Faith and being persons of action. It can be an exhausting proposition to work in the name of Love (God). Am I a person of love and togetherness? Do I stop gossip when it happens? Do I protect the dignity of others by defending the truth?

If we spend our energy attempting to bring love into the world, we may be tired -- but we will be fulfilled. And doing God's work will bring us many blessings. We can't even imagine how many times God blesses us for such work.

Where's the love, y'all, come on (I don't know)
Where's the truth, y'all, come on (I don't know)
Where's the love, y'all

2) Pray as though everything depends on God.

Father, Father, Father help us
Send us some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'

The truth of life is that we are not God. Therefore, we can only do so much in the effort to bring love into the world. Knowing it is beyond our efforts, we must pray. We must pray that God will take control of the world in the same way that God's love fills heaven. In fact, we ask for this every time we pray the "Our Father." We pray for a greater vision -- which may mean more for us to do - and we pray for God's love to be spread through the hearts and minds of all people.

Take time to pray. Whether it's in the morning, afternoon, or nighttime doesn't matter -- the important thing is that we take the time to pray to the author of all creation.

Experts say it takes three weeks to develop a new habit. So starting today, say a prayer for peace and love everyday for the next three weeks. Take the three weeks and see if you can become a person of prayer. (If you are already a person who prays, more power to you!)

Imagine what a different world it would be if we all said a prayer that each man, women and child would experience the love of God. If they could feel it just once, then the world would change.

Where's the love, y'all, come on (I don't know)
Where's the truth, y'all, come on (I don't know)
Where's the love, y'all

3) Live a life that models Faith, Hope and Love in God.
Hope is a beautiful and catchy thing. People like to be around that which is right, true and holy. When we are people of faith, we are people who bring vision to the world -- vision that says, "Love is possible" and "We can trust God's way".

When we pray the "Our Father" we are acknowledging that we understand that there is only one way -- God's way. All other ways lead us away from God -- away from Love. We can be people who model living God's way.

That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' down
There's no wonder why sometimes I'm feelin' under
Gotta keep my faith alive to lovers bound

My hope and prayer is for you to find God's love, and then it will be easier to see the way you can bring love into the world. The best, the only successful way, is by loving others and praying for God's love in the hearts of everyone, because the answer to the question is:

God is the love (The love)
God is the love (The love)
God is the love (The love)

Life Applications:

How do you bring God (love) to others?
When and how do you pray to God?
How do you live to model faith, hope and love in God?