Many people seem to be preoccupied with the satisfaction of the mortal life. More than ever, we need to remember these words of H. Emily Cady, “Pure love always asks, ‘What can I give?’” never “What shall I receive?” February and March are wonderful reminders that love, ultimately, is about service to others.
How do you proceed? Adjust what needs to be adjusted. Evolve your practice of loving kindness. Think of this as a Journey of Spiritual Discovery. Actually, your life has been and will continue to be an ever-evolving journey of spiritual discovery. Each life endeavor is a stepping stone for you to create a life with greater meaning; a life that you are passionate about living. Howard Thurman states, “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Isn’t this why we attend church? We’re sick and tired of being sick and tired. And, we are tired of the illusion of the darkness overcoming the light.
Lent starts Valentine’s Day and comes to its conclusion with Holy Week at the end of March and Easter Sunday on April 1st… April Fools Day. This Lenten season, let us not give up something, yet let us be fools for love by giving it away continuously. Let us fast from hatred and negativity and gorge on loving others and being of service to our brothers and sisters.
Jesus’ life and giving of that life for humanity is one of the greatest acts of love. Myrtle Fillmore stated it well when she wrote, “The Master said that he came into the world not to be ministered unto, but to minister. He did not seek to be loved by others, merely to satisfy the human desire for affection; His great purpose was to love. He radiated love like the sun radiates light.”
Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. The metaphysical meaning of the resurrection is that we all have eternal life. From the depths of death and darkness, we all have the opportunity to raise our consciousness to a higher vibration. We can only do that if we love one another, everything on the earth and earth itself.
When Jesus was asked, “What are the most important commandments,” he replied: “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all our soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself…” (Matt.22:37-39). Can you imagine if everyone in the world made it their life’s purpose to follow the commandments, what kind of beautiful world it would be? Fear, suffering, hatred and darkness would be eliminated if we allowed ourselves to evolve to a higher spiritual consciousness. There would be no lack. We would all make sure that everyone’s needs would be met. We would live in the knowing that there is more than enough for everyone, for there is no lack in God. Charles Fillmore wrote, “Love, in Divine Mind, is the idea of universal unity. In expression, love is the power that joins and binds in divine harmony the universe and everything in it.”
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
– Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I’ve quoted some wonderful people whose lives were taken for their acts of love. I’m not suggesting that you place your life in any danger. I am suggesting that you.. we.. all give our lives over to being love and light in the world. T invite everyone to play an April Fools joke on our lower consciousness by rising to the truth of who we were created to be; the embodiment of God on earth…to be Love. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.” John 4:8
I will leave you with these words, “All humanity should walk the path of love. True peace and a world of joy cannot be realized without love. Happiness is the same. Can you feel happiness alone? You can only feel true happiness when you are able to have a reciprocal relationship of love with another.
Freedom is the same. You cannot experience freedom alone; it can only be achieved through love and within love. You don’t feel tired in the place of true love. No matter how exhausted you are, if you are intoxicated with love and you burst into tears out of love then your tiredness will suddenly disappear. When you feel true love you don’t feel hungry or tired. Also you do not feel afraid of death.”
Unification Church. Sun Myung Moon, 4-25-81