We should strive to do all with love

Dear editor,

A charity sent me a shopping bag inscribed with the phrase, “Do All with Love”.

A simple phrase to say. It sounds wonderful. Utopian. Pollyannaish. Not from the “real” world. Stupid, impossible and maddening to ponder! Simple, or simplistic? The word “love” has many sometimes contradictory meanings. The romantic love of Valentine’s Day draws near.

A Bible verse in Corinthians says, “Do All with Love.”

Some wonderful people seem to live by this, or a similar motto. Are they faking it and perhaps kick their dog when no one’s watching? Does evil lurk beneath the cloak of such do-gooders?

I think there’s a mental “trick” to “Do All with Love”? The “trick” is to briefly pause between stimulus and response. Our immediate reaction to an unpleasant stimulus might be strong emotions such as anger, hatred or fear. Our habitual response may be a hurtful, vindictive attack on the other person(s) involved.

If we intercept the emotionally loaded negative thought and interject the slogan “Do

All with Love”, how would that change our response?

We might, then, seek to respond calmly and kindly to avoid animosity created or perpetuated by attacking the other’s character.

“Do All with Love” could modify the primal urge to get revenge or retribution for perceived wrongs done to us by others. It would mean responding versus reacting. Sometimes we hurt most those we otherwise proclaim to love most. What an irony. What a paradox.

Adopting and practicing “Do All with Love” into our everyday interactions until it becomes automatic might make a big difference to our health and happiness. Best wishes!

Ray Marco Dunmore