RUN THE POINT: Spread Love it's the Brooklyn Way

Spread Love it’s the Brooklyn Way

Just coming off of Valentine’s Day I thought I would talk about a related topic; “Love.” Before you hit the “X” button to leave the screen, hear me out. I’m talking about love as a verb.

How many times have you heard, said, or thought, “If you loved me you would [fill in the blank].” The previous statement is more of a guilt trip than a true call for love. How many times have we used the word, “Love” to refer to how we feel about something or someone (“I love books / Joe”)? There is also the act of making love. In general we tie the word love to a feeling or emotion. We also have what we find in the Bible, which ask us to love our neighbors and our enemies. The Bible also gives us a definition of what love is, love it patient, love is kind…(see 1Corinthians13 for more). I have had a tough time with the thought of having good feelings or emotions toward my enemy until I read a section of this great book on leadership called, “The Servant” by James C. Hunter.

In this book it gave a different perspective on love. It was one that went beyond how the “L” word is narrowly defined in English. The lesson began with an understanding that the Greek language uses several different words to describe the many dimensions of love. Below are the four different words that are used to represent what we have combined to form one all encompassing word, “Love.”

Eros – which is where we get our word erotic from is focused on sexual attraction, desire and craving.

Storgé – is affection especially between and toward family members.

Philos – is brotherly or reciprocal love; Philadelphia , the city of brotherly love, comes from this root word. <-- I describe this as, “you do good by me and I’ll do good by you.”

Agapé / agapaó – describes a more unconditional love rooted in behavior toward others without regard to their due. <--This is the, “love your enemy” kind of love!

The quote below sums it up very well. Use it the next time you find yourself in a position where you have an opportunity to do good for someone who you may feel really doesn’t deserve it or just gets on your nerve.

“I cannot always control how I feel about other people but
I certainly am in control of how I behave toward other people.”

Your Ambassador of LOVE,

Mike Bruny

Quarter Life Answers
Professional Coach, Speaker, Author

runthepoint.com / Coming Soon: QuarterLifeAnswers.com
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Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life."