Where is the love?

Loving and Giving

“Love grows by giving.  The love we give away is the only love we keep.  The only way to retain love is to give it away.”

                                                  Elbert Hubbard

“Some of the best, high-voltage intuitive hits you receive tell you what you can do for others.  Intuitive downloads on others’ behalf are cosmic responsibilities, yet people often do shrug them off precisely because they are demanding.  Let’s face it, we have a ‘thing’ about wanting to see the outcome before we agree to take action.”

                                                  Caroline Myss

                                                  From Invisible Acts of Power

          Have you ever had a strong urge to do something for someone else that you did not act upon?  I have them all the time.  Very recently I watched the Japanese people walking around their shattered homes, in snow.  Some were living in their freezing cold cars.  I thought, ‘I should send them some small quilts for their children, to help keep them warm.’  Then all the nay-saying voices set in.  How would I get them there?  Who would I send them to?  How would I know they actually got to people who needed them?  You get the picture.  I was throwing up every road block I could think of to resist the impulse to help.

          I have learned in these last few years that if there is something I have left undone, or someone with whom I need to mend the hoop, or someone I simply need to tell ‘I love you---you mean a lot to me,’ I should do it without hesitation.  We do not tell people often enough (or at least, I don’t) how much we care about them or the many ways they have influenced our lives.  A few years ago, when I was preparing to retire, I remembered Garvice, whom I had met years before, and who had been the reason I left counseling to go into therapeutic massage.  His gentle presence and competent hands had gotten me through some painful times and taught me the healing power of touch.  He lives out in Seattle now, so I wrote him a letter telling him all this and a month or so later, received a most wonderful letter back.  Not an email, though email has its place, but a hand-written letter.  That was a beautiful gift.

          The urge to do something for another is a direct communication from spirit.  Too often we respond to it by sending money, and there is nothing wrong with that, but sometimes our soul is telling us to do something else, something more concrete and personal.  If we simply do it, put it out there and let it go, we will know we’ve served the greater good in a uniquely potent way.  More importantly, we will know that we are working in concert with our soul’s direction. 

          I have three baby quilts almost ready to go.  I have no idea where they are going, but I know that part will become clear when the time is right.  My responsibility is simply to listen and act.  Yours is too.

                                                 

                                                  Keep the faith,

                                                  Jane