 Increase and abound in love for one another and for all. Not a bad thing to hope for. This is what the first week of Advent's reading from 1 Thessalonians calls us to. This is the foundation of our faith. This is the beacon of our hope. Or as my friend and colleague Jackie Lewis once said, God has a nickname and her nickname is love. It's a many splendid thing. It lifts us up where we belong. All you need is love. It's no coincidence that Advent begins with hope and concludes with love, one always moving us towards the other. This Advent season and every day to follow, may we be people of hope who are always moving towards love.