"The greatest thing....You'll ever learn
Is just to love....And be loved--In return"
--eden ahbez
Is just to love....And be loved--In return"
--eden ahbez
IS IT REAL? YES, IT'S REAL!
"So how do you become real? By looking, seeing, becoming sensitive to all creation. Do this and you'll become real yourself. You won't have to work at being loving. Love will grasp you in its warm embrace.
Can a rose withhold its fragrance from the bad and give it only to the good? Can a lamp shine only on the kind and compassionate and withhold its light from evildoers? Can a tree withhold its shade from the evil ones and give it only to the doers of good? No. And as the poet Kabir says, "Even if it is cut down, if it is a sweet-smelling tree, it will leave its scent on the ax."
Stories abound to illustrate the mystery of love. For example, consider the soldier who asks to go search for one of his wounded buddies. And the commander says to him, "No, permission denied. If you go out, you might be killed, and we don't even know if the man is alive." However, the soldier goes out anyway and when he comes back, he has the body of his buddy in his arms, but he himself has been mortally wounded.
Exasperated, the commander says to him, "Now do you see how stupid that was? Now I've lost both of you." But the soldier gasps, "No. When I got there, Joe was still barely alive and he said to me, 'Bill, I knew you'd come.'"
How can you explain that kind of illogical thinking except in terms of the mystery of love?"
--Anthony De Mello "Praying naked" P. 109 Becoming Real
In LOVE and service,
Sincerely.
Steve E.
19 comments:
I love that book, too.
Hope...I bought ten of his books last wek, and I'm just fascinated with the beautiful twists of teaching/learning
which I'm finding. Seems like an endless lode.
Powerful message to hold with me today. Thanks.
Sometimes I get distracted wanting others to feel what love I have to offer. It is a very cruel, judgmental world--if I focus on it.
I'll stay in the love. Today.
wow, what a story!
LOVE right back at ya Stevie! Yes I believe that it is "real" out there!
Blessings dear one!
The mystery of love makes the world go round!
Beautiful post, Steve. There are days I relate far too much to Pinocchio while he's hoping and waiting to become a real boy. Thanks for pointing out the way with that. Sounds like a great author.
Mich
Your blog reminds me of why I wrote a blog some time ago titled, 'Love That Fellow Named DeMello".
Thanks for this precious writing of his, the wonderful thoughts. They are 'keepers'.
Love,
Me
Once again you prove what a wonderful beautiful soul you are with mere words. If we all gave so effortlessly to love and those around us...the world would be beautifully unrecognizable. (Hugs)Indigo
My eyes open a little when I read your work...
Thanx...
Love is a mystery. And I tend to get lost in it sometimes. But I don't think that I would trade that for the opposite of not loving.
Steve - I tagged you for Bloggers Appreciation Day over at the HauntedHouse.
Rainbow
Steve, this leaves me in tears, and i love you for it. Can you please email me the name of these books, my oldest Adrianna, just lost another schoolmate, and as I have posted she is dealing with a lot of anger. I looked on her facebook and saw how she is hating God right now and i see her reading books about addiction. I mean they are very popular amongst teens right now, true stories of the horrors of addiction things titled, "Glass" or "heroin" and I think if she would read something positive it may help restore her faith. I know I am powerless and i am not owning her stuff today, but if there is something that can give her hope, like your blog gives me then I would at least try it.
Love is awesome. And so are you :)
neato man... very nice...
Actually, funny you should mention the RCIA instruction training. I just yesterday received my Catechist Certification, so I am good for CCD, I don't guess the RCIA certification would be too tough to earn at this point either.
Conducting this concert band has been amazing... It has all come right back to me, after 16 years away from the podium. I LOVE teaching and conducting... Love it!
thanks for checking in with me, my friend!
amazing story. Love is grande!
Came by for another visit Stevie, to say 'thank you' again! Blessings!
A most lovely story, Steve,E!
"Love is not an emotion it is our very nature." Ravi Shankar
One of my all time favorite quotes!
Simple and oh so true!
~Calli
I'm going to have to pull my demello out. I learned that Love is a verb. It's about doing. One of the greatest lessons I have ever learned.
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