day one: a bowling alley.

one of my favorite blog writers has been spending the last 31 days talking about grace and i have fallen more in love with it because of her words and her stories.

grace upon grace is what i've been reminded of.

so in learning from her, i've decided to dedicate the next 31 days to learning more about love. it's all around me. it is the reason we are here and it is the most powerful thing i know of. what is so profound about it is that sometimes it creeps into the most ordinary aspects of our lives making it something extraordinary.

there is a bowling alley that is currently being run by my brother and puffy. it's a long story and one that doesn't really need to be told on my blog. however, the fact that they are spending every waking moment at a bowling alley taught me a few things the other night.

first, that the people in this picture love me well and they each have taught me in different ways how to love better because of it.

second, a man named Ed, has spent the majority of his life spending every day from open to close at the bowling alley. he "runs the place" as he would say, though really all that means is he sweeps, talks to people, and tries to kiss girls. but he brings joy to the place and it is safe to say it probably wouldn't be the same without him.

third, love sometimes means being ridiculously goofy with those who know us best. it's about recognizing that sometimes we have to chill out, strike a pose, and agree to love each other in spite of our faults.

and lastly, this guy, b.hill, taught me again that love is about serving. he has valued the workers at the bowling alley in a way that the people have never felt valued before. and the truth is he does that everywhere he goes. it is not about charity, but rather his innate ability to love people well. he is willing to do the gross jobs, deal with hateful people, and talk with ed for hours on end because he gets that loving people is really all that matters.

in a bowling alley, i learned love.

go for yourself, i bet you will too.

His love was not cautious but extravagant. He did not love in order to get something from us but in order to give everything of himself to us.

Love like that.

-ephesians 5:2