Unconditional love is messy. It has no “if” behind it. It does not have boundaries or requirements. It costs nothing, but it reaps wealth.

It is loving people who refuse to receive it and people who may never love you back. Loving people who do not look like you, believe what you believe, or understand you. It means going out of your way to make others feel comfortable, to make sure they are safe. It means speaking when you don’t feel like it, consoling the inconsolable, and learning how to be hospitable. It is asking more questions and having an open heart.

Fearing the unknown is completely normal. I personally have passed up opportunities; impulsively deciding to stay home, withholding my work, you name it. "Will this be accepted?" "Will I fit in here?" So many moments full of potential, all stolen by my fear. It is something I am very familiar with, but I’m slowly learning to turn it around and use it to pursue the unknown rather than run from it.

When I think on what it means to love people unconditionally, I think of Jesus giving his life for the entire world. For every single human being who would inhabit it. It didn’t matter what had been done or what would later be done. All that mattered was that they were human. That alone made them worthy. If we could adopt this way of thinking, we would know grace in abundance.

I’m not too proud to admit that I’ve been hurt and let down by people I’ve trusted. I’ve been used, taken advantage of and forgotten countless times. Though I try my best not to dwell on those things, they still ache. Though I know that they will happen many times again, I will still feel it as if it were the very first account. I know that this is where we struggle to move forward in confidence and unity.

I try my best to see the good in people no matter what they’ve done to me or anyone else. I search for it, because I believe with my entire being that every person embodies a love that could resemble that of Christ. Even if they have yet to discover it, even if they have given and taken away, it is there and it has so much potential. I cling to the hope that some day we all may learn to utilize that love to mend the brokenness of this world.

Moving forward, I believe that slowing down and learning what questions to ask is the easiest way to love on others. Fear is one of the largest barriers when it comes to connecting with others. So much of the content in media today keeps us stagnant and causes us to shy away from being personal with people. The human endeavor is quite the opposite. We all desire to be in relationship with others. So be vulnerable. It is okay to go against the grain. Don’t be afraid to do what humans are best at. Not only will this make a difference in the lives of others, it will enrich your life as well.