We can love all those qualities and people, and that we don't is a matter of not having grown to that point yet. As I see it, it's growing in embracing all that is that results in love. I grow in love (that is, in being in the state of love) by realizing that all my qualities, the ones I like and the ones I don't like, are part of me, and embracing them, and all people, the ones I like and the ones I don't like, are part of me, and embracing them. In the process of this acceptance and embracing I get to know what and who I don't like, I learn, I integrate, I grow, I love. What it comes down to is that I am one, including the parts of me I don't like, and we are one, including those we don't agree with. We can stand up for our truth and at the same time love those who are not aligned with that truth by realizing that we are each different, we each see through a different pair of eyes, and by dialoguing we each learn. I'm not very good at that one, sometimes thinking I have a corner on the truth, and it helps when I remind myself that I don't. That story comes to mind about the many people with eyes closed each touching an elephant and having a different perception and interpretation of what's there. I think anyone with children can deeply relate to loving someone while at times disagreeing with their actions.
On Jan 26, 2013 david doane wrote :