The subject tonight is Love
And for tomorrow night as well,
As a matter of fact
I know of no better topic
For us to discuss
Until we all
Die!
—Hafiz
I have friends who believe in the Trinity—God the father almighty, Jesus Christ his only son, and the Holy Spirit. I don’t hold that against them unless it makes them mean.
I have friends who believe in American exceptionalism. I don’t hold that against them unless it makes them mean.
I have friends who believe in Buddhism, reincarnation, and UFOs. I don’t hold that against them unless it makes them mean.
I have friends who believe in science, human rights, equality, gender fluidity, environmentalism, pacifism, and humanism. I don’t hold that against them unless it makes them mean.
I have friends who believe in love. God is love. Love is god. Love is all you need. I don’t hold that against them unless it makes them mean.
Which is to say: I believe deeds speak louder than words. Or as Jesus put it: By their fruits you will know them. Thistles do not produce grapes. (Matthew 7.16)
I don’t believe everything I read in the Bible. But I believe that.
Yes, I believe in love. But I also believe love is not enough. It’s necessary but not sufficient. Wisdom is required as well.
Questions must be asked.
What are the characteristics of love? What are the works of love? What are the fruits of love?
Once a man came to me and spoke for hours about
“His great visions of God” he felt he was having.
He asked me for confirmation, saying,
“Are these wondrous dreams true?”
I replied, “How many goats do you have?”
He looked surprised and said,
“I am speaking of sublime visions
And you ask
About goats!”
And I spoke again saying,
“Yes, brother—how many do you have?”
“Well, Hafiz, I have sixty-two.”
“And how many wives?”
Again he looked surprised, then said,
“Four.”
“How many rose bushes in your garden,
How many children,
Are your parents still alive,
Do you feed the birds in winter?”
And to all he answered.
Then I said,
“You asked me if I thought your visions were true,
I would say that they were if they make you become
More human,
More kind to every creature and plant
That you know.”
_______________________
See Paula’s “The Orchid” on the home page. Posted Feb. 5, 2023
Love doesn’t mix well with self-righteousness!
Yes… I resonate to every word. I believe in the power of love; & kindness…& Hafiz…Thank you for this soul food. Like the “Secret Life of Bees” – it all comes down to kindness; especially when love is not enough.🙏🏼💓
Love entails the element of wisdom. But there is more—a practice. As Eric Fromm states, “Love isn’t something natural. Rather it requires discipline, concentration, patience, faith, and the overcoming of narcissism. It isn’t a feeling, it is a practice.” May the wisdom of practice increase our ability to love more and “be mean” less.
When I read your posts and then the comments by readers – I enjoy the expansion on the original – love requires deed, action. Kindness is expressed through action.
Thank you! Larry said it more effectively than I. For quite some time now, Love has had two applications for me: Love as a necessary emotional experience and Love as a necessary action verb. If Love were simply an emotional/feeling experience, we could have it with chocolate! Wisdom comes on the heels of the practice of Loving-Kindness, and increases its presence! Isn’t it wonderful to awaken to Love in the morning? You did that for us this morning! (What are you doing tomorrow?, she grins with a happy heart!)
I have no goats. At one time, we had 6 dogs, 5 cats, and a rabbit. Truth be told I learned more about love unknowingly from this brood, along with those that followed, than I did in my youth at the Will Ruth Avenue Southern Baptist Church in El Paso, Texas.
Sow love
Reap love
Virtuous circle
Self revolving
Cycle of sweet living
Quakers pray for discernment
Social justice is a fruit of love
But it doesn’t look like love
To those who practice injustice
Love and justice upset the status quo
And disturb the peace.
Truly words to live by! Something I need to remind myself of every day.
As I’ve no doubt previously referenced in this forum, “How useless to search it becomes, when we seek all the answers in one.” –Mason Williams, singer, songwriter, poet, guitarist, head writer for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and American philosopher.
Also keep in mind the advice of another American poet, singer, songwriter, who reminds us, “I once knew a man, who said he knew a man, who knew what was going on. I was mistaken. It was only a shadow of something that I knew.” –David Crosby, from the song “Laughing”
Let’s face it, just when you think you’ve found the truth that only means you’ve already lost it.
Love is all you need.
Lennon & McCartney