Love and Science

It’s the Valentine Season and all thoughts are turned to love.  Well, at least some of us are caught in that mood and it’s a good feeling and a great reality.  “The Science of Love” was the title of an article in the Feb. 12 Parade Magazine just out today (Newman, J., Los Angeles Times, PARADE, February 12, 2012, p. 8).  The article reported findings of studies comparing the brain responses from couples who had recently “fallen in love” with the results from men and women who had been married an average of 21 years or more.   When the longer-term married couples were shown pictures of their beloved, “…their dopamine-rich VTA lit up like a pinball machine…” just as did those of couples who were in the “first blush of love.”  The findings indicate love doesn’t have to fade with time. 

Dopamine is a chemical produced by our systems to help us focus on the one we love.  But a second part of the study was even more interesting.  When compared with new lovers, the brains of those who had been in love for many years, “showed greater activation in serotonin and opiad-rich areas [of the brain] associated with calmness and pleasure.”  In other words, fear and anxiety are reduced through the maturity and the security that comes with a lasting love relationship.

The text in I John 4: 7 – 21 has a beautiful way of approaching this topic.  In I John 4:18, John says “There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear…”  As our love for our Lord increases through time, that perfecting process helps us face our fears.  Once again, science provides us with support for what we find written in the Word.  In Christ we have boldness to stand in the face of future judgment not on our merits but because of what He has done for us.  And, we are free to love others “Because He first loved us.”  I’m reminded of a Bill Gaither song that states, “I am love, I am love, I can risk loving you, for the one who knows me best loves me most.”     [ From: http://www.metrolyrics.com/i-am-loved-lyrics-gaither-vocal-band.html ]

Next Sunday we begin our walk toward the Resurrection.  In preparation for our Lenten Series we want to celebrate the joy of the coming of our  Messiah.  Come join us for the worship service and a special surprise to follow!   Pastor Marv