A company of German soldiers rolled into World War 1 by occupying a small village in Luxembourg, a vital center for lines of communication between Germany and Belgium. While only a tiny first step in an enormous tragedy (20 million people died in WWI, and set the stage for WW2 where another 75 million died), the act underscored the madness to come.

The name of the village? Trois Vierges, or the Three Virgins, representing faith, hope, and charity—the first casualty of the war to end all wars.*

Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, and down the ages to us, about faith, hope and charity (or love). If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or clanging symbol…if I do not have love, I am nothing.

Paul’s words remain ageless. I might do so many wonderful things, write fascinating phrases or give all I hold away, but we all know that without love it clangs on the ground.

I find it especially moving that Paul wrote this passage to a church. The first place we practice the most excellent way is among our fellow believers. If we can do it there, then folks will notice.

I read these words, I hear them at weddings, I see them painted on walls, but I still struggle to grasp the depth of Paul’s teaching. I suppose that’s what Paul means when he says we see in a mirror dimly.

Unlike German invaders, I don’t trample over faith, hope and love, but I do tend to drive around them on my way to other places.

I Corinthians 13 in week thirty-seven of reading the Bible cover to cover

*The Guns of August by Barbara W. Tuchman (p. 98)