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April-June, 2016

Fearless Love

by Rev. Michael Graves, O.M.C.

Having lived more than a few years of life now, I have come to know that most people in the world are genuinely kind and loving at heart. But I have also noticed that there seems to be something that stops some of us from fearlessly expressing love and kindness to others we meet in life. Especially if they are considered to be strangers or someone we don’t “know.”

Students of A Course in Miracles are more aware than most that there is no such thing as a stranger, only a brother, and that every encounter is a Holy encounter. Yet, many of us still struggle to be more open and fearless with others.

Ever been to a conference or lecture and had the person leading or speaking say something like, “And now I would like you to turn and greet those who are seated around you?” I’m sure that most of us would rather skip that part right?

Using the words we and us isn’t intended to be a judgement of myself or others but rather, as an observation of the behavior that I have seen in so many of us.

Let me share a poem that I wrote as I was thinking about this subject:

Why

In a world where fear and hate abound, why are we afraid to show our love?

Why do towers have to fall and people have to die for us to drop our fears and boldly show our unconditional love for others in the world?

Is it only then that we give ourselves permission to be who we really are?

Come with me

As I see it, the expression of love for others in this world is the ultimate “which came first, the chicken or the egg” question.

We have all heard that we cannot truly love others until we love ourselves. But we also know that the way to feel love is to experience ourselves as freely extending it to others in all of its various forms.

Here is a poem I wrote about this concept:

My Path

I know I have been blessed
As I walk my spiritual path.
I’ve glimpsed the Master’s meaning
Of “all my Father hath”
It isn’t always easy
This life I choose to live
But easier when I remember
What I need I first must give

Going forward, I can see how important it is that we realize and accept that we were created as One, loving beings like our Father, dedicated to the wellbeing of ourselves and others.

All of the world’s scriptures contain this teaching in one form or another.

On some level, I believe that we have built walls of protection around ourselves as a response to our own hurts and fears, and as a way of staying safe and fitting in with other defended people, which I believe is most of us.

Save, of course, the enlightened few.

But those same walls that we think will keep us emotionally safe, also keep out the peace, love and joy that we all seek. It has been said that love is to the spirit, what air is to the body.

Having grown up in a very abusive alcoholic home, and going through a long and abusive first marriage, some would say that I have every right to be angry, fearful and defended in my approach to life.

But I have learned that clinging to my “right” never has, and never will bring me the love, peace and joy that I choose to have in my life today.

Only through finding love and true forgiveness for myself and those that have seemingly hurt me have I been able to change my life and the lives of those around me.

As for all of the other problems in this world, for me, Love is the answer.

The Course has taught me that everything we experience in life is either an expression of love or a call for it. And that every encounter is a holy encounter.

Just a genuine smile and a few seconds of full eye contact that says, “I see you,” can be a turning point in someone’s day and possibly their life.

We can help to restore our faith in ourselves and all of mankind by offering simple fearless acts of love and kindness to those whose lives we touch however briefly every day.

And so, it is my choice today to continue to identify and overcome my fears and, to the best of my ability, fearlessly express my love to the world.

© 2016, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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