“I’m not living the life I thought I would lead, but it does have meaning, purpose. There is love…there is joy…there is laughter.”
— Christopher Reeve
There is Love
Tag Archives: love
The Greatest Things are Freely Giving
“Thank God, the greatest things are freely giving; life, love, joy, smiles, hugs, inner peace, blessings, family, friends, nature….!”
― Lailah Gifty Akita
Finding Barriers Against Love
“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” – Rumi
Thought for Today
“Each time a person passes by you and you say ‘hello’, imagine that person turning into a candle. The more positivity, love and light you reflect, the more light is mirrored your way. Sharing beautiful hellos is the quickest way to earn spiritual brownie points. You should start seeing hellos as small declarations of faith. Every time you say hello to a stranger, your heart acknowledges over and over again that we are all family.”
― Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem
Thought for Today
“Love is a spark of light.”
― Lailah Gifty Akita, Think Great: Be Great!
No Act of Service Too Small
One important aspect of following a spiritual path is being of service to our world and our fellow travelers through life. Many times when we think of service we think of large, organized events and much good can be done through some of these events.
But I also want us to look at the opportunities to be of service that are all around us everyday.
- Open a door for someone or hold the door for the person behind you.
- Help someone who is not tech savvy use a computer.
- Reach a jar or box on the top or bottom grocery store shelf for someone with a disability who cannot reach or bend. Those of us who are just short appreciate this as well.
- Listen to someone who just wants or needs to talk.
- Walk the dog of a sick friend.
- Take a meal to a sick friend.
- Send cards for any or no occasion. Send them to your friends and family or find an organization that sends cards to sick children or military personnel.
- Smile and say hello to people. If you know the person or they are wearing a name tag address them by name.
- If you don’t know you neighbors on both sides of you, introduce yourself. If you have elderly neighbors check in from time to time, especially if you haven’t seen them for awhile.
- Help those in need as you become aware of individual needs in a way that you can. It may not always involve money. Maybe someone needs a ride, or help finding a job or even just directions when they are driving lost.
Living in an area that is a popular retirement location there are opportunities for service all around. The list above came from my personal experiences. These are the little things we often just do without even thinking about it. There’s no need to have a meeting, form a committee, take a selfie doing the good deed or post it on social media. Just help. Help who you can, when you can, in whatever way you can.
Looking for a way to change the world? Start noticing and acting on those little opportunities to be of service. Spread the love and light of God around, even in small ways. We all need it right now.
Anyone have anything to add to the list?
Thought for Today
“Love works in miracles every day: such as weakening the stong, and stretching the weak; making fools of the wise, and wine men of fools; faouring the passions, destroying the reason, and in a word, turning everything topsy-turvy.” — Margaret of Valois
Thought for Today
“Your life is a sacred journey. It is about change, growth, discovery, movement, transformation, continuously expanding your vision of what is possible, stretching your soul, learning to see clearly and deeply, listening to your intuition, taking courageous challenges at every step along the way. You are on the path… exactly where you are meant to be right now… And from here, you can only go forward, shaping your life story into a magnificent tale of triumph, of healing, of courage, of beauty, of wisdom, of power, of dignity, and of love.” ~ by Caroline Adams
Thought for Today
“Wisdom is knowing we are all One. Love is what it feels like and Compassion is what it acts like.” ~ Ethan Walker III
So How Do We Resist?
In the early days of the Trump presidency I found myself beginning to get caught up in the “we have to resist” frenzy. Living in a rather remote area and travel being difficult for us right now kept us from rushing off to participate in marches, rallies and other forms of “protest.” So I participated in spirit. I prayed, meditated and “held the high watch” for those who were out there as well as for our country as a whole. But I have been uncomfortable with some of large public protests and the way they have been conducted. I have watched with concern as protestors have been called thugs and accused of everything from inciting violence, to looting, to unprovoked attacks to being rude at town hall meetings.
I have been silent on the tragedy in Charlottesville because I just didn’t know what to say. I also rarely comment on current events immediately. I wait for guidance and if it comes then I say something. Finally guidance came and I am now able to offer these words of hope and encouragement.
So how do we resist evil?
- Choose our actions carefully and wisely. Getting into a face to face showdown with heavily armed White Nationalists may not be the best thing to do. Scripture tells us to “abstain from all appearance of evil.” 2Thessalonians 5:22 Most people have likely seen the President’s description of the events in Charlottesville. That a group of “leftist thugs” attacked a group of “fine, upstanding citizens” who were peacefully protesting (with a permit to do so) the removal of a statue and the renaming of a park. We do not get involved with anything that can degrade into or even be exaggerated or twisted into being improper, violent or evil. I am not sure that physical on site protests have accomplished what people are trying to do and in many cases have been used as examples of the “evil intent” of the protestors.
- Maybe it time to rethink the word “resist.” What if resistance isn’t fighting against but living for? See my blog “Fighting Against or Living For?”
- Determine that the world will not change you, that you will not follow the anger and violence of the world but that you will follow Spirit, walk in the light and lead by example. We can resist by refusing to hate. We can resist by living in peace. We can resist by loving.
- Create and repeat affirmations. I am love. I am peace. I am creating a world that works for all. When working with affirmations it is important to put them in positive words, not negative. I will not, I am not, are not as powerful as I am statements.
- Live in the light and walk the path set before you. People will notice. Your example may make people think about their actions. Your example may even change the world.
This is how we do it folks, by living the life of love, peace and light and refusing to be changed by the world around us.