“Love is light, the huge mysterious power that enlivens not only our spirits but all of creation around us. The light that falls into our lives because we love and are loved is the light that will truly illumine us forever. It is the star we follow to stumble on magic, the moonlight of incredible romance and unbelievable passion, the sunlight of healing and growing, of spiritual well-being.
“It is the light that enters our eyes when we behold the ones we adore, the light we create with our words, with the radiance of our spirits, with the whole beauty of our lives. Love is the light in which we live and breathe and love and dream. Love is the light that will fall on us, now and forever.”
Daphne Rose Kingma
Monday, February 7, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
gifts immeasurable
“I don’t have a gift for you…”
“Things are complicated, you would give me a gift if you could.”
“They are complicated, still…”
“If you could give me anything, what would you give me?”
“I have thought about this a long time. If I could give you anything, I would fashion a ring for you out of string. If you got an envelope in the mail and all it had in it was a ring made of string, would you know it was from me?”
“Yes, I would know.”
She thought on the gifts he had given her, a few simple things that fit into a shoe box. There were photographs, his drawing on a napkin, ticket stubs, a mint wrapper, hotel room key… There was half of the rock he picked up at a favorite spot from their past. How she treasured that rock, treasured everything! They were tokens that proved it wasn’t all just a dream, their love was real, he was real. She thought of the memories he had given her, sweet memories of times together; the surprise plane ride, the day he carved their initials in a tree, their long walks, talks, laughing. She could feel his skilled hands massaging her aching feet. She thought of his letters, memorized from their re-reading. She thought of what his love had done for her, how it had healed her broken spirit, renewed faith in herself. His love had given her hope for the future, courage to escape her pain and freed her to be her truly wonderful, authentic self. How could he possibly know the extent of the gifts he had given her?
And yet, he did know, for she had done the same for him.
“Things are complicated, you would give me a gift if you could.”
“They are complicated, still…”
“If you could give me anything, what would you give me?”
“I have thought about this a long time. If I could give you anything, I would fashion a ring for you out of string. If you got an envelope in the mail and all it had in it was a ring made of string, would you know it was from me?”
“Yes, I would know.”
She thought on the gifts he had given her, a few simple things that fit into a shoe box. There were photographs, his drawing on a napkin, ticket stubs, a mint wrapper, hotel room key… There was half of the rock he picked up at a favorite spot from their past. How she treasured that rock, treasured everything! They were tokens that proved it wasn’t all just a dream, their love was real, he was real. She thought of the memories he had given her, sweet memories of times together; the surprise plane ride, the day he carved their initials in a tree, their long walks, talks, laughing. She could feel his skilled hands massaging her aching feet. She thought of his letters, memorized from their re-reading. She thought of what his love had done for her, how it had healed her broken spirit, renewed faith in herself. His love had given her hope for the future, courage to escape her pain and freed her to be her truly wonderful, authentic self. How could he possibly know the extent of the gifts he had given her?
And yet, he did know, for she had done the same for him.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
more than we are
“Love calls us into being as the highest expressions of ourselves, makes us servants and saints, confessors and healers. When we love, we have no choice but to enlarge our definition of ourselves. Because of love we become not only more than we are but more than we ever intended to be.”
Daphne Rose Kingma
Daphne Rose Kingma
Friday, February 4, 2011
random prayers of kindness
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale tells of his habit of praying for people as he passes them. He realized one day as he passed someone that that brief fraction-of-a-second encounter was probably the only time their paths would ever cross. He wondered how that man’s life would turn out, and offered a prayer for him. He started praying for other strangers, the woman hanging out laundry for a large family, the homeless man, the child. It became a life-long habit, and part of his character.
I started following Dr. Peale’s example two years ago and have been impressed with the results. Of course I don’t know the effect of my prayers on the individuals for whom I pray, but I have seen an interesting change in myself. I find I am more aware of those around me; I take notice of people who would otherwise go unnoticed. I find I care more about others, wondering at what struggles they are facing; I am drawn out in compassion for them. Often the noticing and the caring lead to opportunities for random acts of kindness, a sweet connection between strangers, a loving thing, really, and something we’ll never get enough of in this world.
I started following Dr. Peale’s example two years ago and have been impressed with the results. Of course I don’t know the effect of my prayers on the individuals for whom I pray, but I have seen an interesting change in myself. I find I am more aware of those around me; I take notice of people who would otherwise go unnoticed. I find I care more about others, wondering at what struggles they are facing; I am drawn out in compassion for them. Often the noticing and the caring lead to opportunities for random acts of kindness, a sweet connection between strangers, a loving thing, really, and something we’ll never get enough of in this world.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
in season
“Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within the reach of every hand.” Mother Teresa
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
exquisite freedom
Love’s Exquisite Freedom,
by Maya Angelou
Love arrives;
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet, if we are bold
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.
We are weaned from our timidity.
In the flush of love’s light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet, it is only love
which sets us free.
by Maya Angelou
Love arrives;
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet, if we are bold
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.
We are weaned from our timidity.
In the flush of love’s light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet, it is only love
which sets us free.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
love is...
“Love is at the heart of every action, interaction, relationship, need, conflict, resolution, endeavor, possibility, and outcome in life. We move toward love. We live for love. Love is our breath, our goal, our source, and our best medicine. Love is the sound between sounds, the eye in the midst of seeing. Love is who we are and how we are and why we came to be. Love is at the center of everything.”
Daphne Rose Kingma
And so begins my February tribute to love…
Daphne Rose Kingma
And so begins my February tribute to love…
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