love

                                                THE MEANING OF LOVE

High on a mountain slope the rays of the sun warm a tiny piece of ice, and transform it from its frozen dormant state, to the living liquid it once was.  It flows down across the jagged rocks to merge with other droplets, and slowly, one by one they become a tiny rivulet of water.  Despite the obstacles in the way this little stream finds its way in, around, and over them, with one goal in mind.  To reach the end, the promised land, the sea of tranquility where it can finally rest in peace.  It knows not where it is headed; it only has this inherent faith that this is the place where it was intended to go.

Along the way it encourages others to join in and come along. Together it says we will become a mighty river, and there is so much strength and support in joining numbers. So others join in and although it may be just a creek, a brook, a stream, or another river joining in, the momentum of water becomes a crescendo of motion that becomes unstoppable.

It may be held back momentarily from time to time, but it cannot, and will not be stopped for long.  It will rest and pool itself until once more it spills over the top and consumes all the obstacles in its way and then once again, it’s on its way.

Along the way it becomes a vital support system for all who seek refuge in and around it.  They feed from it. They use it to wash away their filth, cool, and refresh themselves.  They seek comfort and shelter in it and they let its current carry them along in the ultimate free ride.

Substitute Gods love for the water I have described above and the analogy is the same.  God starts it all flowing from high above and asks us to join in. God gave us a never-ending supply of love the day we were born, but unless we use it, it dries up and we lose it.  The more we give it away the more of it flows back in.  He knows if we all join our love together, there is nothing that can stop us.  God knows there will be dams of resistance and waterfalls of weak days. There will be arid deserts along the way filled with suffering and pain that will try and consume us, but if we stay together, he tells us, we’ll make it together. God has also told us it’s a one-way trip to his Promised Land, and we will never have to worry about going back to where we came from. Like the river I talked about above, this stream of love will carry us and cleanse us, and feed us along the way

Marianna Williamson wrote,

“Love is what we are born with.  Fear is what we learn.  The spiritual journey is the unlearning of fear and prejudices and the acceptance of love back in our hearts. Love is the essential reality and our purpose on earth.  To be consciously aware of it, and to experience love in us, and others is the meaning of life.  Meaning does not lie in things.  Meaning lies in each of us.” Yes, sometime,somewhere in our waning lives, we all need to find our ultimate quiet pond.

                                                                                    Mike