A Concise Theology of Love. (4. The Is): Death Row Ruminations (Thoughts from an Extended Dialogue with Ohio Death Row philosopher Keith LaMar)
This concise theology of love was constructed by The Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood (Dean, The New Theology School) after a recent night of dialogue/conversation with Ohio Death Row philosopher, Keith LaMar. Of particular consequence, is Hood’s consistent interaction with Lamar’s slogan, “Love is the only freedom.”
This is the 4th of 7 short chapters/ruminations.
4.
“Love and abuse shouldn’t even be mentioned in the same sentence…”
-Keith Lamar
“You can’t abuse somebody with love in your heart…”
-Jeff Hood
Full stop.
Open your lungs.
Breathe in.
We think that love is about being right. We think love is about winning. We think that love is about emerging victorious. We think that love is about coming out on top. We think wrong.
Love is humility.
There is no freedom in hate. There is no freedom in judgment. There is no freedom in discrimination. There is no freedom apart from love. There is only one true freedom.
Love is freedom.
When we encounter love we are encountering who we really are…we are encountering the antidote to our false self…we are encountering the realest possible reality. We are encountering the one true us. We are encountering the us beyond us. We are encountering everything.
Love is everything.
There is nothing wrong with condemnation. Injustice should be condemened. Injustice should always be condemned. But you will die if you stay in condemnation forever. When you love someone rightly…you are loving them into a higher way of being…you are loving them beyond condemnation…to a higher place of justice.
Love is justice.
One of the greatest problems with our society is that we assume that love is always going to look the same. Make no mistake…love always exists…beyond our borders…beyond our categories…beyond our lines.
Love is unrestrained.
There is one standard by which to measure the success of a life…love. There is one standard to measure the fullness of a life…love. There is one standard…
Love is the standard.
When people oppress us…we can either listen to them or we can live beyond them. When people hate us…we can either listen to them or we can live beyond them. When people wish us harm…we can either listen to them or we can live beyond them.
Love is transcendence.
There is a transformation available to us all.
We can either choose it.
Or…
We can allow hate to choose us.
Love is the only freedom.
Breathe out all that is not love.
Reset.
Rest.
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