May The Circle Be Unbroken

Signs of Love
– Taking and Giving

I have heard that there are people out in the world who have lost the ability to love anything other than their own ego. I have never met one. Most the people I know are somewhere between desperately seeking love or blissfully surrounded by love. There is a great discovery to be made by anyone seeking to love and be loved. People share love and communicate love in all sorts of ways. Today I realized a much deeper understanding about human behavior, love and how we demonstrate our love and affection.

The insight began as a small kernel of abstract thought triggered when I noticed an internet article on my wife’s computer that I was eaves-dropping on.

“That one”, I say, as she scrolls back up and I begin reading about an article that tells us how toddlers communicate love. “they demonstrate and communicate their love by sharing”. I considered this for a while, comparing it what I have experienced in life, and my experienced with my own children and now grand children. I even get up and go into the next room to observe my grand daughters at play”.

My toddler grand daughter looks up from her work with play dough and says with a great big smile,
“look Popa”. In that instant, 10,000 occurrences from my life experiences filled my mind and realized how many times people along my path had shared and showed me love.

Later, in meditation, exploring this arising and intuitive insight, I began to wonder, explore, remember how I responded to these acts of love. In all those years where the ego pulled my strings, there were not too many sincere loving responses. In the years since I began the work of sovereignty over ego, the joy of receiving was known, experienced.

I looked back over the years, and realized some of those times where I completely missed what was not being said. I was now aware of so many opportunities to receive love from someone but was to self absorbed to know it for what it was.

As the insight began to mature, I realized the other part of the sharing. The giving part. There are memories where I gave but the other ego did not care or appreciate the giving, and my ego reacted with resentment. But then, I also realized how much ‘not giving’ or giving to my ‘self’ that had taken place. Its a wonder that anyone ever loved me, but that is one of the miracles of life, I guess.

I also recall the times where I was expressing my own love or affection for someone and felt the warm feelings that arose because of their sincere gratitude for my offering. There is something so very special about sharing, giving to someone you love and they love you back for it. These are exquisite moments.

When love compliments with love, spirit is joined. With every fiber of my being, I believe this is one of the door, if not THE doorway to heaven, or your version of it.

Giving and receiving, with a loving heart is of the highest virtue. This is the bridge between the spirit of each and the bridge between our spirit and source. We are called by so many of the common spiritual paths to practice this as a way of life.

It can happen anywhere at anytime. Perhaps you are in line at the grocery store, or come across a homeless person, or it maybe the little old lady sitting in the waiting room who offers a smile and friendly comment. We should especially pay attention to those who share their lives with us. They are our wives, girlfriends, husbands, boyfriends, sons, daughters, co-workers, club members, and those who consider themselves our friends. The inner circle people are who you serve and love first. Then try extending your taking and giving to those in the outer circle in your life.

Finally, when you can realize and truly understand how the ego causes so many people to do crazy things, your own spirit can recognize this and remain above it. When you know and understand why people strike out and hurt (ego), then it is possible to forgive them and still love them. Ego, self serving, and distracted striving lose touch with the taking and giving of love with others. The True self, the spirit, does not give into the sharing of the dark side of ego (anger, hate, revenge, manipulation etc). Spirit moves above ego and uses love as a means to transcend the dark side. In spirit, the true self, will practice and be willing to wait on the lost person to find themselves again. Then, in a moment of love, they will build the bridge with an offering. In a moment of love the other may also transcend love and join in with the taking, feeling appreciation and gratitude. And once again the circle of light is joint. The giving and receiving of love.

My friend, where ever you are, who ever you are … may that circle be unbroken.
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Lyrics to Song, sing along with youtube video at very bottom (Gregg Allman of course, im from Georgia)

I was standing by my window,
On one cold and cloudy day
When I saw that hearse come rolling
For to carry my mother away