On Love and Sacrifice

Love without sacrifice does not exist, and sacrifice without love is futile.

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ was the ultimate sacrifice, and the cross remains an enduring symbol of true, selfless acts of love.

I wear a cross not because I am perfect; not because I think I am perfect; nor because I want to signal to others that I think I am perfect. I wear a cross as a daily reminder that I am not perfect. It helps me consciously remember that every day, (really, every moment) is a new opportunity to exercise my free will toward goodness, patience, and understanding, and that although I may fall short sometimes, I can always seek and strive for goodness again.

Whether you are religious or not, whether you see Jesus as God, prophet, historical figure, or fictional character, you cannot deny the moral strength and influence of his teachings. Some people choose to emulate an actor, athlete, political figure, or philanthropist. I choose to follow the teachings of Jesus, and I try to live by that decision every day, even when it is not easy.

I often ask myself why, when I am trying to be a good person, that others do not always appreciate it; they even exclude or ridicule me sometimes. Then I remember Jesus said that those who follow Him will be ridiculed.

Now, even viewing His words as a carefully crafted narrative, you cannot deny that what He says is true. Being honest and doing the right thing does not always get you material success or popularity.

But it does give you love.

The Catholic religion could be viewed as an absolute to some, or the religion and teachings could be viewed as a manifestation of the truth. I cannot prove that God is a booming voice from the heavens; I can only speak with conviction about God through my experience.

I have been told many times, “God is Love, and Love is God.”

And I do now, at this point in my life, deeply and confidently believe this to be true. But this idea does not tell us with certainty what God looks like or how He sounds, and in fact, it raises more questions than it answers. Is God more of a concept, something incomprehensible to the human mind while we are alive?

No one on Earth can answer these questions: Is there a God? Who is God? What happens when we die? Why are we here?

That is why life is both so incredibly special and frightening at the same time. None of us know for certain what the master plan of this world is, or if there even is one.

But personally, it is very hard for me to believe that this is it; that a human existence is akin to the lifecycle of a plant and having no connection beyond this world. There is something beyond this world that I know, in my heart, is real, something too strong for me to ignore.

I have seen and experienced true goodness and self-sacrificial love from many around me, namely my family. This goodness and love have inspired me to do many things that seemed insurmountable at the time, just as countless others throughout history have been inspired and strengthened through receiving and giving of selfless love.

How can so many people across history feel the same way, unless we are feeling God?

Originally written May 2014;
Revised several times;
Published current version & FINAL - June 2026