Plant Only Love
“With life as short as a half-taken breath, don’t plant anything but love.” Rumi
There is great disturbance in our country right now. Roiled emotions and the cruel violent attitudes, words, and actions that result escalate fright and stress, creating more of the same. Who are we called to be in the midst of this atmosphere? What is ours to do? Rumi gives us good advice. And Jesus taught, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you,” John 15:12. It’s a tall order. Yet it is our only viable option. Why love? Love is the universal solvent–the spiritual power that dissolves fear, disdain, hate, and resentment. Love is the quality that allows us to be ourselves, whole and complete, while realizing that we are also one with all people. How can we bring love’s power into the midst of today’s circumstance? First and foremost, know that love already lives within you. There is no need to go and get it from outside. Simply become still and notice the warm flame of love in your heart. If you’re ready, choose to let that love shine and grow and flow through you–your mind, your thoughts, your emotions, your eyes. As you do that, you will begin to see differently. Love’s dissolving power is at work and any hardness of heart, or any hurt, melts. You see yourself and others with compassion. There may be pain, for you will notice the suffering that underlies the cruelty and hate. Take a breath, center into your heart, and plant your love gently in the fertile ground of your soul. With your Divine Imagination, see the beautiful tree that has grown from your work. Where there was fear, there now is an exquisite abundance of love. You have made a difference. You have chosen to love.
In the Love and Light of the Christ,
Rev. Anna
