The author approaches a familiar concept in an unconventional yet intriguing way. People of deep personal faith around the world will likely agree that God and his people share a covenant rooted in love for his creation and for their well-being. For some, it is a beautiful mountain sunrise; for others, it is making a deep, unbreakable connection with someone in their life that changes everything. Each moment of beauty or of awe is evidence of the universal principle of love that everyone wants or needs in some form in their own lives. To understand love in its purest, most unconditional form, however, it is important to know where it comes from, where it originates, and why it exists for people to benefit from in their families, friendships, careers, and in nature. Willroth seeks to address such ideas in his thought-provoking book.
Chapter by chapter, love is examined initially from a conceptual standpoint, in relation to faith, and in terms of the implications of its very existence for everyone. Then, different forms of love and how it is demonstrated and shown are placed one after the other, seeing how people use love in constructing their own societies and lives with one another, how they show their respect and love for God, and how that is reciprocated universally as a resource everyone can tap into. By better understanding love as a subject in its totality, individuals can give and receive it more fully through charity, gratitude, kindness, trust, and every other behavior and choice that prioritizes care and concern for others, even when it is inconvenient or difficult.
Thoughts and ruminations on love are viewed and unpacked from so many inspirations in this book, chief among them the Bible and spirituality itself. However, readers will be introduced to writings by well-known authors and philosophers, historically relevant figures, and even institutions and constructions found in everyday life. One of the most refreshing aspects about the author’s personal delivery is a willingness to keep learning and to get things right in a truly universal way. Though the book is written primarily from a Christian perspective, there are plenty of opportunities to reframe lessons and Scripture through the eyes of those studying life from predominantly Jewish or Muslim lenses. That openness invites discussion and makes sure that all readers are welcomed into this study and encouraged to take it further than the back cover.
For those in a Bible study, this book is a wealth of inspiration and resources, as each chapter is heavily footnoted on Scripture that provides evidence and discussion for each topic. As a companion read, there is a veritable directory of verse and chapter that leaves nothing unexamined and springboards the reader from the concept to the proof. The aim of this book is not to reduce a feeling or a sensation to a tangible, rigid explanation, but rather to show just how pervasive and wondrous it is to experience love on a daily basis from so many different directions. Readers will come away from this book with fresh eyes and a deep desire to both receive and share the benefits of living in a loving fashion, exemplifying God’s own gift to all he has made.
