How to Love... for Dummies

Anybody else read the "How to...(fill in the blank)... for Dummies" books? I kind of think that 1 Corinthians 13 is the "How to love" for dummies. I have a major in dumbness when it comes to the infinite knowledge of God and still a dummy when compared to theologians, pastors, and teachers of God's word... but somehow this chapter gives the impression that even a dummy such as myself can learn, and practice, and BE, LOVING. This is my deepest hearts desire - to live my life loving. I might fail at this sometimes, but I keep striving for it and looking into it deeper, so I don't turn away or forget what Jesus did for us.

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

This is such a great chapter... I LOVE it! ;-) I love it because it simply shows the way we are to live... And if you know me, you know how much I need and appreciate directions! This passage, to me, is the "HOW" of all hows. My personal favorite line from above is, "Love never fails." And then that last line, "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is Love." I'm inspired in reading the contrast of things that "will pass" and the things that will remain; noting that the things that will pass are not bad things- just not eternal things. Since my goal (as well as yours I'm sure) is to live a life that seeks the good of others for their entire existence/eternity- the words here give a clear perspective of what matters and how we live in a way that matters.