We know so little of real love today. Our minds and hearts are so dulled and battered with sarcastic sitcoms, trashy novels, the evening news, the morning paper, offensive movies and the pornographic cyber buffet that invades our homes via the Internet.

We are seldom called on to love as Hosea loved. To get our hands dirty in the life of the one we love; to lay down our life and keep our promises to honor our vows even when our spouse breaks hers/his. Which one of us would swallow our pride, debase our dignity and go after that unfaithful spouse like Hosea does in chapter 3? Then God ordered us, “Start over: Love your wife/ husband again, your wife/husband who’s in bed with her/his latest girlfriend/boyfriend. Love her/him the way I, God, love the Israelite people, even as they flirt and party with every god that takes their fancy” (3:1).

The words “start all over” leap off the page, bring hope to the wanderer. When we have drifted far off course in our relationship with God, when months or years have passed wherein it seems God has been silent, we assume there’s no going back. There can be no starting over. But God is in the recovery business. His love knows no ends. He isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty in petty stuff of our lives. Even though we think He must grow weary of our wandering, He comes after us and calls us back.

God does not sit idly by while we wander, but as He calls, He also pursues, He forgives, He redeems (buys back), and He transforms. He uses everything in our lives, all our circumstances, to drive us back to Him. He sent His Son to live with us, die for us, and then live inside us ... talking about “hands on” love.

Undying love is love that isn’t worried about its image. I once had a church in a town called Crewe, Virginia. At the end of town, beside the golf course, was a cafe/bar called “Tootsies and Woodrow”. They had the best food in town. I went down for lunch one day and Woodrow introduced me as his new minister. The guys quickly hid their beer bottles. After several visits, drinking coffee with the guys, I had one of the guys ask me to explain a biblical question. Soon all the men had a question they wanted answers to.

It wasn’t long before I was having a Bible study in the bar. (I’m not suggesting that believers hang out at the bar). The end result was that several of them started going back to church with their families. The curious result was that I was the talk of the town. Church folks couldn’t understand how any minister could go in to a bar ... so I was listed as a sorry excuse for a minister.

What does church folk didn’t understand was that what I did was to restlessly obey what the Lord had laid on my heart. It was then that I realized that undying love doesn’t stop at the door and consider one’s reputation; love meets us at our point of need. We must never forget that God loves us with hands-on love and compassion that He isn’t afraid to join us in our miserable and filthy condition.

Finding the way out of our misery begins with a glimpse of God’s undying love.

When was the last time that you shared your God-given love with someone that others are putting down or calling names? If there has a while, why not try it? Giving that “hands-on” love is really worth it in the eyes of God.

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Dr. Charles M. Wood, II is an accomplished instructor of psychology and religion at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College. He is a Christian counselor in Logan — serving, ministering, and donating his time to people from all denominations.

If you would like to contact Dr. Wood, please write: The Logan Banner, c/o The Good Life With Dr. Wood, P.O. Box 720, Logan, WV 25601; or call (304) 752-4658. All letters addressed to Dr. Wood will be forwarded to his office.