There are few universal solutions in life. This is so because people and circumstances cannot be painted with the same brush. The exception is the understanding and practice of love. This statement is made boldly and without apology or qualification. Every single human being on the face of the earth will benefit by understanding what love is and putting that understanding into practice. It is only the degree of the benefit that will vary from one person to the next.
It is an extraordinary thing to be happy; to hum along with a merry tune respective of what is happening in your life. The value of happiness is beyond measure. Picture yourself protected and safe inside a glass globe. Inside the globe are green meadows arrayed with spring blossoms; birds soaring free underneath a blue sky singing their own unique melody. Being happy protects you from the slings and arrows of other people and life. At the same time happiness creates an energy that emanates outward to envelope the people close to you.
To accomplish anything in life first requires that you imagine it -
The practice of love is a life-
Choosing to put the practice of love in your life is a choice that will naturally
lead to other choices. There is no right or wrong, good or bad. The practice of love
chooses one way over another because to do so is to be in line with what love is.
How you think, what you think, what you choose to read or watch, how you spend your
time and with whom are all choices that are made every day. They may not seem important
choices -
Remember that every human being sends out vibrations that are created by thought and emotion working together. Viewed from a colour spectrum, the vibrations can range from purest black to brilliant white. Some colours have great power of influence; others are neutral with no power.
A skater, to become a champion, must practice for hours every day, day in, day out, year after year. Is it work? Well, yes. It's hard to get up those two hours early; to give up hanging out with friends. Yes, it takes making what are sometimes hard choices. Is it a struggle? Yes, and no. Flying around the ice, getting that twist just a little more perfect is sheer joy. But I doubt there is a champion anywhere, of anything, who has not at some point said, "I can't do this, it's too hard." And yet they carry on because to not skate is unthinkable.
And so too is developing love. At first it may seem like a struggle, like hard work.
But, as you stay the course, as you live love, it quite literally becomes your nature
until to be or do anything else seems strange -
It is desire that will gently push and prod you to take the actions that will achieve the goal.
To be continued...
“In the Babemba tribe of South Africa, when a person acts irresponsibly or unjustly, he or she is placed in the center of the village, alone and unfettered. All work ceases, and every man, woman and child in the village gathers in a large circle around the accused individual. Then each person in the tribe speaks to the accused, one at a time, about all the good things the person in the center has done in his lifetime. Every incident, every experience that can be recalled with any detail and accuracy is recounted. All his positive attributes, good deeds, strengths and kindnesses are recited carefully and at length. The tribal ceremony often lasts several days. At the end, the tribal circle is broken, a joyous celebration takes place, and the person is symbolically and literally welcomed back into the tribe.”
Adapted from The Circle of Healing by Cathy Holt
(Talking Birds Press, Berkeley,
CA, 2000), p 114-
The Practice of Love
