Real Love

I’ve always known the obvious, that to make love a part of my life would be beneficial to my relationships. In fact, from as far back as I can remember, I’ve generally loved my parents, siblings and friends. Later in life, my husband, children, co-workers and the like…

I’ve also loved strangers: In my community I’ve always tried to act kindly and with compassion towards people offering my time and resources where and when I could. Sometimes, I had even actively searched for people who looked liked they needed a helping hand, just so I could extend a light of some kind. It seemed like the right thing to do and it made me feel good.

I also learned to ‘love’ in relation to my career. You know, “do what you love and the money will follow,” as the well-known saying goes. Over the years, I’ve spent countless hours reading self-improvement books and thinking about what ‘I LOVE’ doing that may somehow benefit others and allow me to live the ‘lifestyle’ of my choosing.

Like most people, I’ve even loved things of the world like animals, nature, reading, movies (movie popcorn), dining out, certain music, going to the gym… But in retrospect, what did I really know of love? What did I really know of receiving and extending the sacred energy that binds all things together?

In A Course in Miracles Jesus tells us, ‘Love fulfills all things. Love embraces all things. Love heals all things. Love transforms all things. It has no separate parts and no degrees, no kinds nor levels, no divergencies and no distinctions. It never alters with a person or a circumstance. It is the Heart of God, and also of His Son. It is everywhere and in everything…’

According to the gospels, the Apostle Paul said, “If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a tinkling symbol. And if I have prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And if I dole out all my goods, and if I deliver my body that I may boast but have not love, nothing I am profited...

Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, Love never ends…”

Now, as I focus on the real meaning of love, I am ever connected more deeply with the truth of who I am. I am ever more connected with the truth of life itself. As I commit to expressing the power of love in all that I think, say and do, I feel my bond with Spirit growing stronger day-by-day, hour-by-hour, moment by moment.

Sometimes when I’m feeling unsure of my Self, I remember the blessed feeling I have when I am in love’s awareness and remember Jesus’ words, “Call to your Father, certain that His Voice will Answer.” When I do, I am instantly flooded with peace and I am reminded of the truth that there is nothing greater than love. Once again I recognize my joy, my happiness and deepest gratification. I am whole and at home.

The power of love is so significant, A Course in Miracles tells us, “If you achieve the faintest glimmering of what love means today, you have advanced in distance without measure and in time beyond the count of years to your release (W-127.7).” Love is in fact the key to our awakening. I’m so thankful that the beauty and inspiration of love has healed and continues to heal my mind in so many ways. Thank you God for the one gift of yourself that joins us eternally... Love.