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 Now I Know in Part
By Renee Harms
“Wuv, twoo wuv...”
These are the now-infamous words spoken by a speech-impaired priest in the comically untraditional fairy tale, The Princess Bride. In this tale, Wesley, the hero, and Buttercup, the fair maiden, find themselves fighting for their love against villains, beasts and unfortunate mishaps. At one point, a presumed-dead Wesley is taken to Miracle Max who, it is hoped, can revive him. Miracle Max declares Wesley is only “mostly dead,” proceeds to pump air into his mouth, then yells into his ear, “Whatcha got here that’s worth livin’ for?” As Max pushes on Wesley’s chest, a breath of air escapes, along with the barely audible words, “True...love...”
No fairy tale would be complete without it—the quest for true love. Since we were born from love in the beginning of time, the heart needs to love and be loved as much as it needs to have blood pumping through it. Most of the time we fumble along, sometimes getting it right, many times not.
In 1 Corinthians 13, the “love chapter,” Paul actually describes for us what the purest love looks like—the kind we long to experience, the kind we strive to express. But tell me, do you know anyone who loves that perfectly? Do you think you could ever love the way Paul describes?
Recently, as I studied this chapter, in honor of the month of hearts and cupid, I was struck by these words:
“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. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears…now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (1 Cor. 13:8-12)
Love is truly the greatest hope we have for living well in a sin-shocked world. But even then, the best attempt we can give is still only a “poor reflection” of the purest love. Poor Wesley. Someone should have told him true love on this earth is still a fairy tale! And yet...all is not lost.
The beautiful truth still remains that the God of love has planted in us the capacity to love, as best we can, and in a myriad of ways and relationships. In fact, He chooses to love through us; despite humanity’s imperfection, when we see love in action, we are actually seeing glimpses of God!
The Apostle John puts it this way: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God...no one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like Him.” (1 John 4:7, 12, 16-17)
So believe in true love, and love well, for you are a reflection of the Prince of Love and the great “happily ever after!”
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