“I see that mankind still survives after all its attempts to destroy itself and so I surmise that it is the law of love that rules mankind.”- David Richo
There are several things in this quote that resonate with me. "Mankind still survives," speaks to our existence as a species. "Attempts to destroy itself," speaks to our violent nature. "Law of love," is the exception that ensures the survival of our species. Procreation is necessary to the survival of any species. Many of us were not conceived in love. We were conceived in confusion, fear, and doubt. This is just one of the reasons, we have a violent nature. Our environments were breeding grounds that instilled insecurity and hate towards ourselves and others. But, the exception to the rule was the "law of love." The law of love is the ability to love in spite of our innate nature and our environment. It is when you look at yourself in the mirror and surmise that you will be better than the previous generation. It is when you look at your neighborhood and make up your mind that you will be an asset to your community instead of a detriment. Wake up everyday and surmise that today will be better than yesterday. Surmise that you will be a better you today than you were yesterday.
As a child, I hated to sit still. I hated waiting. I always wanted to be in the mix. In fact, my curiosity was the reason I got into trouble. I had to know. I had to see. I had to do. The words, "sit down," sounded like a jail sentence. I have to admit as an adult, I still struggle with stillness. There is so much to do. Clothes need to be washed. The house needs to be cleaned. I have errands to run, and groceries to buy. Do. Do. Do. I honestly felt like I could not be productive unless I was doing something. I had to check everything off my "to do" list. Rest couldn't be productive, right?
Wrong. Our bodies need us to rest in order to function properly. We need to sit down after a long day to recoup. We need to be still, so we can hear the murmurings of our heart. I am still learning these lessons. Everything does not have to be done today. These dishes can sit in the sink. There will always be more clothes to wash. Order a pizza. You can get groceries tomorrow. Believe it or not rest is productive. Be still. Listen to birds chirp. Enjoy the beat of your own heart. Let someone else wear your cape today. Your "to do" list can wait. Just be still.
When I was a child, I loved playing hide and seek. I would find the best hiding spots. I loved being "it," too. I would scour the house to find my cousins and friends. There was never a stone unturned. I looked everywhere. I tossed curtains to the side. I flung open closet doors. I peeked under beds. I checked every cabinet and crevice. I was a diligent seeker. How often do we pursue the things we want in the same manner? Do we toss our pride aside to let someone know how we really feel? Do we inconvenience ourselves to seek out the assistance of another? Do we exhaust all possibilities before we give up on our dreams? Become of a diligent seeker of the things you truly desire. Seek and you will find!
Opposites attract. The north and south poles of a magnet attract each other similar to positive and negative electrical charges. Yin and Yang are opposites. However, yin and yang are often used to show how opposing forces are complementary of each other. The law of polarity states that all things under the universal law has an opposite. Good vs. Evil. Heaven vs. Hell. Rich vs. Poor. Love vs. Hate. Men vs. Women. It's always easy to see our differences. Women are from Venus and Men are from Mars. However, we were created to be complementary to one another. The dichotomy of love is that two people raised in two different households, with two different backgrounds choose to ignore their differences and celebrate their similarities.
There is power in spoken word. There are lots of "new age" thinking based on this logic. The Power of Positive Thinking is based on faith and inspiration. The Law of Attraction is based on affirmations, declarations, and visualization. The Secret is based on positive thinking and the law of attraction. These are not new ideas. The branding and marketing is new. Reaping and sowing is not new. It is an agricultural principle. If you sow an apple seed, you will reap an apple tree. If you sow love, you will reap and abundance of love. Make positive declarations over your life and your future. Create a vision board. Sketch your dream house. Name your kids. Write a few morning affirmations. Create a breeding ground for creativity and positivity. Make a declaration!
"A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed."- Henrik Ibsen
When was the last time you gave money to someone on the side of the road? Most of us have been conditioned to believe that these people are panhandlers instead of homeless veterans or people with genuine needs. When was the last time you paid it forward? When was the last time you volunteered or helped someone in need? What was your last good deed? It is our civic duty to help those in need. "To whom much is given, much is required."
John 15:13 (KJV) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
My grandfather was murdered saving the life of his boss during an armed robbery. It was a selfless act that was deemed heroic by the Times Picayune at the time. However, it left our family with a void no one could fill. My grandmother became a widow. My mother, aunt, and uncles lost their father. My cousins and I lost a grandfather. His death left ripples in our community, but love is sacrificial. Our loss was his gain. He earned a big jewel in his crown that day. Compassion is love in action.
As I celebrate Good Friday, I can't help but to think about Mary. Her son was murdered. She watched her son give his life for the redemption of sinners who deny his existence. The disciples lost their example, but love is sacrificial. Their loss was our gain. We gained a savior. The cross was God's love in action. He came and died for us. God's compassion is unmatched. However, it should be the motivation for us to have compassion and truly put our love in action.
