Can you imagine the difference in our world if everything came from a loving heart instead of from fear or retaliation? With the climate of the upcoming presidential election, it seems so easy for American
people to focus on opposing views and parties rather than our similarities. While I know there is value in opposition, I also see the divide that happens, creating a loss of site of our oneness as connected beings on planet Earth.
The Beetles sang, “All We Need is Love”. Barbara Streisand named her album “Love is the Answer.” And songwriter Todd Rundgren with the band Utopia wrote the famous song, “Love is the Answer”
in 1972.
I want to share with you why I believe that “Love is the Answer” and how we can radiate love every day by knowing that love is a power, a law, and a commandment. In fact, this type of love doesn't require love in return. I will also offer you some tips on how you can change your life by coming from a consciousness of love instead of fear.
Psychologist John Lee did a comprehensive study of the use of the word “love” in history and literature and identified six different kinds of love, or what he calls “love styles.” These include Eros, Ludus,
Storge, Pragma, Mania, and Agape. The one that I
want to focus on in this writing is Agape, or as we call it in a Unity perspective, Divine Love.
So, how does this kind of love express itself? Paul gives us an excellent description in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not
dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.”
It is important we understand that Agape Love or Divine Love is an attribute, a power, not something we need from someone or something.
We also find in the teachings of Jesus that we are commanded to love. When a certain lawyer asked Jesus, “Sir which is the most important commandment of the law of Moses”? Jesus replied, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. The second most important is similar: 'Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.' All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets' stem from these two laws and are fulfilled if you obey them. Keep only these
and you will find that you are obeying all the others." Matthew 22, 37-40. Love therefore is the fulfilment of the law.
So, how do we exude and radiate this Agape or Divine love in times of challenges and chaos? I want to leave you with some ways I believe we can radiate our divine love even in the middle of uncertain times.
1. Become Conscious/present to the awareness that love is a power, a law, and doesn't need to be received to share and radiate our own
wellspring of love.
2. We can change our thoughts by using “Positive Reappraisal.” This is when we take a negative thought or idea, and we change it to a positive. We do this of course without spiritual bypass. We do not deny the challenge but instead deny the power the challenge has over us.
3. Prayer and Meditation, Unity's Principles. These practices allow us to stay connected to Source, where we show up grounded and
equipped to handle any situation.
4. Daily Practice, knowing that understanding the Laws of Life, like the Power of Love, is not enough. We must live the truth (Unity Principle 5) that we now know by radiating love instead of fear
into our daily lives.
Join us this Sunday as Rev. Gerry Boylan shares his talk “Forgiveness: The Pathway to Spiritual Freedom.” He says, “when I let go of blame, shame, and guilt, especially directed toward myself, I can truly live in the present moment.”
Blessings, Rev. Bobby
