Love Like Water

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.”

-1 Corinthians 13:4-8

True love is God’s love. It is easy to love the people who are like ourselves, who we get along with, who we share interests and beliefs, and who agrees with us. Our husband, wife, family, and friends are easily loved by us, but is that true love? Love comes naturally in those situations. Godly love or true love is when we love those who we have problems with, those who don’t agree with us, those who are unlike us, even our enemies. God tells us to love our enemies. The same as how Jesus Christ loved us, even though we are sinners, we doubted him, we put him on the cross; Jesus still died for us all. That is the greatest love. True love is constant; it doesn’t change because of our schedules or our priorities. If love can change, it is not true love. If the love in your heart changes for someone, it is not true love. Truth and love are things that do not change. If we believe otherwise, we are too self-righteous. Love cannot fill the heart of the self-righteous.

To be loving, we must have endurance and patience. How often do we let impatience and frustration get to us in life? When we practice Tae Kwon Do, when someone fails us or disappoints us in some way, how do we respond? We must carry love through our actions with others. As senior belts, it sometimes is frustrating when your junior belts aren’t listening or following instructions. Sometimes we get angry when someone points out our faults or we blame others for our problems. As senior belts, we must teach with love and patience, especially when it comes to our young junior belts. How can they know love, if we don’t show love?

한수 Hansu is an 8 degree black belt poomsae (form). It symbolizes water. Water can be gentle and clear. We can’t live without it. We and the earth are made of mostly water. Water can also be powerful, vast and can break through rocks. Our forms reflect our “Do”, our spiritual journey. When we do forms, do we practice love, patience and humbleness? Do we look into our hearts and use our movements to show love and harmony? Or do we look at others and think we are better? Or are we envious of others? Do we judge, blame and belittle those around us? When we practice Tae Kwon Do, we practice to love, respect and to be humble. Our forms, kicks and knowledge are not meant for us to look good. They are meant to help others and to accept others. We accept others no matter the situation, the problems, and the differences. True love transcends obligation and laws. Like Hansu, we should be like water. Water cleanses our spirit. Jesus said that we will never be thirsty again if we drink his water. If we follow Christ, we are his extensions of love. Our actions, our words and our hearts must pour love like water.