I was watching “No Reservations” the other day and I heard something that truly resonates with me. Iggy Pop, while sitting in a health food restaurant with AB (from here on out referred to as “Uncle Tony”) in Florida, said that what thrills him now, after all his adventures is “being loved and appreciating who gives it to you”. I think that is still a pretty punk principle.

Punk can be defined as a rebellious attitude. How can the acceptance of love be punk? Think about it…so many of us cannot say that we accept love easily. I know I don’t. If its that I don’t feel worthy or just conditioning, I’m not sure. It would be awfully rebellious of me to look at Oz (or my child, or my BFF) to say loudly over lunch, “I accept your gift of love in my life!” and mean it. How could I possibly be that weird over a club sandwich? Then, what about appreciating the people trying to give it to you? HA! We (the collective we), are SO bad at it. At least in my experience. Here’s an example from my life:

Me to Oz, “You’re so handsome”

Oz to me, “You’re so crazy”

He refuses to accept love from me in that way. You could say, “Well, maybe he has a different love language”. I call BS on that. It has nothing to do with that. He is blocked from accepting softness, and its difficult. I would go onto Stella Heaven if just one time that crotchety man would say, “Thank you! I appreciate that” I love in a loud, vibrant, practically aggressive way. If I love you, you most likely know it. I will hit you with a baseball bat of love. Right between the eyes. Then kiss the bruise. Because yelling “I LOVE YOU” is awesome.

In a world that is set up to harden and divide us, love is punk. It is rebellion to offer our fellow human grace in this day and age. What an act, to love someone right where they are at in this moment. To love not some idealized version we have of people in our heads. To love folks in the moment. To not make them “earn” it. No, I don’t mean merely romantic love. I mean universal acceptance of another as they are: physically, emotionally, spiritually. Could you, blog reader, offer softness to a stranger? What about a smelly bum of a stranger? What if there was no hope of getting anything, even love, in return? Could you pick up and help clean up someone then send them on their way with nothing to show for it in return? Would you do it without blasting it all over social media? (Don’t do that. Its gross) I don’t know that many could. Or would.

Let’s not politicize or bring religion into this. The Bible says “Love your neighbor as yourself” and the religious still don’t. Politics in the US at least is like a fandom more than anything and those elected officials (Both sides) CERTAINLY don’t have real love for anyone. They may say they have people’s “best interest” at heart, but they are paid to be politicians. I am a follower of Christ and an avid follower of politics, yet I still say that religious entities and political parties don’t love you. They may love your money, but not you in your uniqueness. I’m prepared to lose friends over that. Taylor Swift probably has more genuine love in her heart for individual people than the Governor, former President, Joel Osteen, or Jimmy Swaggart.

Individuals can make such a huge impact by simply showing love to one other person. Love. Genuine, unadulterated love and compassion need to make a comeback. Way more than mom jeans and bodysuits did. Did people ever actually love each other? Outside of families? Was there a time when individuals cared about how the dude down the road was doing for a non nosy reason? I certainly don’t remember such a time, and I’m almost 50.

This, friends, is my challenge to you: show a stranger grace and love today. The girl at the pharmacy…the man waiting ahead of you for coffee…the server that messes up your order. Love someone in a way that doesn’t benefit you. Its punk as hell!

Be bold. Be rebellious. Be loving. You will be surprised at how good you’ll feel.

Musical reference: “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout the Good Old Days)” by the Judds or “Punk Rock Girl” by the Dead Milkmen