Are you a loving person? Of course you are! Love is who we are. Even if we don’t think so.
But we don’t always acknowledge this about ourselves. In fact we rarely do. And sometimes we don’t show it to others.
What does a loving person do, when they admit to themselves that they truly are loving? They treat others lovingly. Not just some others, not just he people they think deserve it, but everyone, without exception or judgment. Why? because being loving isn’t a selective thing; one cannot love a little bit. That would be like being “a little bit pregnant”. Either you love or you don’t.
Living in a state of love – for yourself and for others – can feel as though it would be hard to maintain. Although enlightened masters seem to do it automatically, those of us who are still seekers may find it challenging. And therein lies the Love Challenge.
Not long ago I promised a class which I facilitate that I would test this out by making a pledge to live in love for a month. In the first day I found myself making errors (I counted them) and promised myself to do better the next day. The second day there were fewer lapses. By the end of the first week I was getting into the habit of treating everyone I interacted with, even peripherally, with respect and love. Of course there were mistakes here and there, but the difference was that I noticed them. When I noticed them I could be aware to do better. I could forgive myself and start anew.
I began to notice that life was becoming much easier and a lot more pleasant. I even began to see that to respect my fellow humans and animals, it made sense even to obey laws that most people flaunt – speed limits and such – because ignoring them was disrespectful to other people. And I found that the more I took care of the needs of others, the more my own needs were met.
I had to deal with the derisive inner voice that accused me of being a goody-two-shoes. Whatever that means. I guess it’s a derogatory term for someone who wants to be a decent human being. I’ve never been able to figure out what’s wrong with that.
At the end of the month of this pledged time, instead of heaving a sigh of relief, I asked myself why I would ever want to live any differently. And so I decided to continue. Over time I find that I have to re-make the pledge each time I sink back into old habits. Eventually I hope the new habits will take hold.
Although the enlightened among us live in love automatically because that state of being is caused by becoming enlightened, perhaps we can also reach this goal the other way around – by letting our insistence on living in love enlighten us.
Take the Love Challenge: Pledge to spend a month treating every person and every living creature with love and respect. When you slip, just forgive yourself and keep going. Then report at the end of the month what you learned.
Sign up for the Love Challenge by sending an email to laurie.riley689@gmail.com
Soul of Compassion 