A pastoral counselor confided in me that she believed no one was worthy of her heart. It deeply saddened me to hear this news. Her premise was that God is the only one truly deserving of her love. As a therapist, she extended compassion and mercy to her clients. She spoke the truth in love, but she would not give her heart away. She saved the depths of her affection for her Lord.
The only person who may receive a significant measure of her love would be her husband, if she ever married. While she was single, she counseled many couples with the hope that they’d experience the heights of spirituality. This distance between her and her fellow man depressed and devastated me.
We are taught in Scripture to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, but we are also taught to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:29-31). These are the words of Jesus. This is the gospel, the good news. When love abounds, grace prevails. Salvation is a heartbeat away.
How can we love God Whom we have not seen without loving our neighbor whom we have seen? I believe the counselor exhibited false piety. When we serve our brothers and sisters, we serve as if unto the Lord. When we clothe and feed even “the least of these,” we perform these works as if unto the King (Matthew 25:34-40). It is righteous to care for one another. We, God’s creations, are worthy of love.
We need to speak from our hearts and out of the abundance of our hearts (Matthew 12:34). We need to flow with a recognition of the worth of a human soul. Human life is empty without love and empathy. Without love, our words are hollow. Without trust, we fail at the human experiment. Our success depends on the recognition of our need for love. Love is an endless journey when it is true. Love is what makes you YOU. Let your love shine. Let love be the light in your eyes.
Don’t miss out on opportunities to delve into our shared humanity. We connect based on our interior more than our exterior. We share the same wants and needs. The desire for love and empathy leads us to our most vulnerable state. If only more people would not fear vulnerability, the world would be a more fulfilling place. We must be the change we wish to see in the world (Ghandi). So, I will bravely march forward across a bridge of love and empathy with the touch of forgiveness, which makes hope possible.
From my heart to yours,
Yeru
留言