About love …

It can feel daunting to face winter’s cold after the holidays are over. Where does the almost palpable love and caring go when the lights are gone?

Can we remain open, choosing the way of the heart, even the courage and vulnerability it takes to face life’s challenges and pain?

Love and hate may be two sides of the same coin. We each want to be loved, so why do we see more hate than love in this world?

It seems that something drastic has happened to humanity’s natural and intrinsic love, even though it’s unconditional love that we would like for ourself.

Might it be that society is afraid of the freedom and awesome power that comes with authentic love?

The powers and authorities may want us fear and guilt-based, so it starts early with cutting our wings, perhaps sensing that we’d be easier to control.

Many have fallen for “loving” for what it can get. Hate is hard to admit and hypocrisy can abound.

Wouldn’t it make more sense to lovingly accommodate each other in consideration of the varying levels of maturation and consciousness? With encouragement to face self and lighten the darkness, we can embark on becoming the changes that we want to see.

Temptation to hastily label as “sin” or “evil” the mistakes made in process of learning and growing – needs to be resisted, even if upbringing, religion, politics, etc., may have conditioned us that way.

As we awaken to the eternal beckoning of love, may the light of our awareness come through. Awareness can dissolve anger and hate while actually making love stronger.

May we each choose loving kindness as we face the New Year!

Joy Wilson Lone Pine