Mark Nepo from "The Exquisite Risk: Daring to Live an Authentic Life"
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you relate to the notion that the work of love is to love? Can you share a personal story of a time you held another and listened deeply and in that process heard the mystery of all life and the ocean of your own blood? What helps you dare to hold close those forced to the ground?
Wow, loved this read! Such a wonderful thing to begin my day with here in my world. A reminder of love in everything, of doing the small things with great love! The analogy of the conch shell and our whole being and the universe... of the holding and listening and the challenge to us all for compassion.
I agree that the work of love is to love. Love without action is theoretical and meaningless. Love put into action enhances the other and the person expressing the love. Love put into action grows and spreads. In holding another and listening deeply, I wasn't conscious of hearing the mystery of all life and the ocean of my own blood, which phrases I love, but that is what happened. I know that all that is is one and we are one, and holding and listening are a natural expression of that. In the process of holding and listening to another, I am holding and listening to myself, I am being how I am meant to be and doing what I am meant to do. When I do dare to hold close those forced to the ground, it's knowing all this that helps me dare. I know that in such moments I am vulnerable, and the satisfaction of love in action is worth the risk.
Promises! I will love you and honor you ... In good times and in bad, all the days of my life. My husband has had seven concussions in his medical history (that are recorded). Little by little throughout my 40 years with him, I am noting changes that directly relate to his past trauma. The work of love most certainly is to love ... Cuz love is all I have! (When I speak Love, I speak God ... because He has everything to do with it!). I am, thru the holding and listening relationship I have with my Father, able to love my husband in the way I promised ... and in the way God makes me aware that he needs. (irregardless, of reciprocation). That's what God's love for me is for! Amen.
All beings big and small,
the ones you’ve met through spring and fall,
the ones you’re with and hopefully having a ball,
the ones you will meet maybe in a mall,
the point of this bad poem by vinod lal
is, can you truly love them all?