In the musical "Rent," the lines from the song, "Seasons of Love" speak about 525,600 minutes of love that we all can experience in our lives.  As I listen to the tape, (which by the way, is my daughter’s!) on my way to work, I think, “how blessed I am to have learned the way of love. How blessed I am to be able to share my love and my appreciation for the people that come into my daily life.”

In today’s reading Romans states, “for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”  I wonder, “ Do all people in the world know and appreciate the commandments?”  “ You should not kill.”  “ Love does no evil to the neighbor.”  If only all people truly knew and lived the message….

Psalm 112 speaks to the delights in following God’s commands.  I see the delight as a challenge for myself, to not only live my life, being mindful of God’s commands, but to be an example in my daily interactions with students, co-workers, and with my children.

Finally, in Luke I get the message that all of us can be burdened with our own human-ness, in making a mistake, in not taking action, and in general, “not being perfect.”  God knows about our imperfection, and is asking us to recognize our own “crosses” and to seek God’s counsel and guidance as we struggle daily to love, to welcome, and to share our blessings and understanding regarding the gift of love in all the 525,600 minutes of the year….