Reciprocally Loving

Helen at Montrose, with BACON!

Sept. 19

Some thoughts I have had as my mother steadily deteriorates and loses most of who she is to one stroke after another.

There’s a lot of discussion over the years about aim, and what inner work is “for,” and so on. Everyone has an opinion.

Most of the opinions are inflated. Perhaps even mine. But as we age, and are confronted with the facts about our inner selves and the inevitability of age and death, some things become a little clearer.

First of all, we all have far too many grand ideas—about ourselves, and every other damn thing. The presence of God and Love of God are much simpler (and far more mysterious) than the complications of our intelligence.

 Secondly, our purpose – the purpose of all life and all being and even our “work” – is to open our hearts and allow life to flow into us more deeply and simply. It is becoming available to this Presence of the inward flow of love that’s important.

Third, as we enter our lives with perspective and humility, our daily bread consists of both the inward flow of the Divine Presence and of the flow of our lives into our own Being. It is the blend of these two things that creates the spirit with which God would prefer we live our lives. 

This consists of a material action, and not the thoughts I have about it.

This action of allowing life to flow more naturally into Being is essentially and reciprocally loving. In order to be reciprocal, it must first become essential; and in becoming essential, it touches the heart and that secret innermost place where God knows us and wants to love us.

May your heart be close to God, 
and God close to your heart.

Lee

Senior Editor, Parabola Magazine.