Austen Powered – Part 3 (Love Eternal) The final chapter

Yeah baby, yeah! Love has passed the test, but is it tough enough.

Jesus lovers decide – love daily or daily grind……..

Phil 1 vs 9-11 (The Message)

So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover's life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.

So here we are, the final chapter, lets pick up where we left off

‘Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary’

Circumspect means

Marked by attention to all circumstances and probable consequences; cautious; prudent

Unlike our groovy pal Austin Powers, Jane Austen’s life was circumspect. She knew and considered the consequences of her choice to be a writer in her generation. She made tough decisions. It meant she was single and not overly wealthy. In this age of anything goes, without regard to consequences, we could do with being a little circumspect. We could do with considering the consequences of our actions.
 
For example, how families talk to each other and treat each other has given rise to a generation of Jerry Springer misfits and how we treat the planet is causing us untold pain and misery. Sometimes a little prudence in our relationships and actions could actually stop heartbreak.

Jane Austen’s life was exemplary - not many women did what she did during her era and the fruit – totally delicious. As we go deeper, this verse seems to totally reflect everything that Jane Austen captures in her books.  I am not sure if she was a Christian. But from what I know of her life she stepped out, used her talent fully and left a legacy of six of the best novels written in English. Achievements we are called to aspire to every week by those who are brave enough to take to the pulpit.

Circumspect is not a word we always associate with modern day Christianity or indeed love. We tend to hear a lot about stepping out into your dreams, living by faith, not by sight. These things are fantastic and all things we should do. On the other hand, there is a lot to be said for being intentional and considering the consequences before we take action.  

Ironically, caution and prudence are viewed as quite noble English qualities and for many generations have reflected our attitude to love and church. It has brought us safety and comfort.

But, at this point it is worth saying as much as these qualities could save us making huge mistakes, they can also stop us opening up our hearts to love. Something Jane Austen’s society and indeed the Pharisees of Jesus’ time knew all about.

Dare we risk losing love by over analysing it? Love is about risks and I prefer calculated ones……… but …. Jesus calls us to take risks, step out in faith and love and to trust him. How often do we think, think, think when we should just do what God tells us. He loves us, so we should not come to harm. Love is tough in every respect.

This may seem a little out of sync with what’s been said earlier. The key to resolving this is to look back to the beginning of this verse ‘Learn to love appropriately’ If unconditional love is at our centre and that love is appropriate, we will take the right risks. It's what Mitch Alborn in his book 'Tuesday's with Morrie' might call 'the tension of opposites'

Let’s remind ourselves of what circumspect means
Marked by attention to all circumstances and probable consequences; cautious; prudent

To write with such authority, Jane Austen would have had to really observed and known in detail her society. Her words highlight the consequences of stepping into or outside the boundaries set by the society in which she lived. But at the same time, she is part of a generation of people, such as William Wilberforce, who where constantly pushing the boundaries.

However it’s about pushing the boundaries in an appropriate way. Love absolutely requires boundaries, but not borders. Sin, pain and misery are the consequences of stepping out of the boundaries in the wrong way. We need to break through love’s borders. Take the lead on things that make love possible, and make life possible. We need to choose to do that every day. The Holy Spirit will step in and do the rest.

When we push love’s borders, we suddenly find ourselves living a life of pure love. We move towards a higher, more perfect love. The bible verse  ‘Perfect love holds no fear’ springs to mind here. We get ready to risk something for love. We ‘stop the traffick’, ‘make trade fair’, feed the hungry and cloth the poor. We house the homeless, free the prisoner, and speak up for the unloved because we have learned to love them. We love our family and friends and make time for them. Are we exemplary in how we live? Do others learn about the love of Christ from how we love them?

Furthermore, it could be argued that Jesus was the best social commentator ever. He certainly was sensitive to his shared history and heritage as a Jew and to the circumstances of his life during Roman occupation. He knew he was born for ‘such a time’ How aware are we of our situation today. Do we understand the times we live in and are we dealing with them as Jesus would?

Jesus lived to love and lived for love. He is our example. I believe love causes us to be who we should be. Experiencing real love, the love of God, will make us be who we should be in this world. It will cause us to do what we are called to do during our lifetime. It makes us want to change for the better. It should cause us to flourish. It should bring out the best in us.

To finish let’s think about the last part of this verse. ‘a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.’

If only we could find a way to not get carried away by emotions, or indeed learn to express emotion appropriately. 

Much of Jane Austen’s novels hinge on inappropriate love and misplaced affections. Part of the journey of many of her characters is learning to get over the hurdles of society and their own ego. To find their ture heart and feelings. To do something that in the final outcome makes those they love proud. To wake up to the real nature of passion and deep rooted affection. Love.

How very Elizabeth Bennett and Mr D’Arcy. How very Bridget Jones. (The word about town is that Bridget Jones is modern day homage to Ms Austen.) 

For that matter, how very 'Clueless.' The main character's hapless attempts at match making are brillaint. She obviously comes from the Emma Woodhouse School of
Arranged Marriages. (Note to diary - Think I am going to leave the great matchmaker in the sky to arrange mine!!)

Back to the main plot... How very true is this for us today as we journey with Christ through life. We are God’s beloved and he wants us to be proud of us. What do we do each day to live a ‘life Jesus would be proud of.’ Or indeed, our father God, our family, friends and beloved would be proud of. Jesus made God proud. On earth as it is in Heaven. 

One day we will all have to stand before God. When my turn comes, I want him to be able to say he is proud of me. That I have been bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God’

How? Because I have tried to truly love God, love others and love life. I often fail spectacularly. But love is about failure and loss too. The happy ever after of this is that I will be in the arms of my beloved God and will be loved, cherished and adored for all eternity. Surrounded by love that shall never end.  

I choose to love daily and avoid the daily grind

Lets us go and live to love and love to live.  Amen