“Having died of self-interest, we risk everything and ask for nothing.

Love gladly parts with every gift that God has bestowed.

Without cause God gave us Life; without cause, give it back again.” ~ Rumi

Yes, we can “take care of ourselves” and thereby come to “have a good life”.
Yes, we can invest in “healthy boundaries” & thereby keep ourselves “safe”.
Yes, we can strive to attain “balance in o…ur relationships” and thereby receive the “love” we do indeed deserve.

And I wonder if this is what life is really all about.

I wonder if real happiness comes from simply gathering “fun” and in investing primarily in those who love us (and/or in those we happen to love). When we are lying on our deathbeds, I wonder if we are going to look back on such “justified selfishness” with a sense of accomplishment — or with a sense of regret (if not disgust).

Frankly, I’m not sure, and everyone has to decide for themselves what they are going to do with the time they have left.

AND — I think I’m going to err on the side of believing that there is more to this Journey than my own pleasure. I think I’m going to err on the side of believing that there is more to being human than living a long, comfortable life. I think I’m going to err on the side of believing that I am here to serve, not to merely be served; that I am here not to live a life of “happiness”, but rather to enLiven one that is Meaning-full.

I think I’m going to err on the side of believing that I can make a significant, positive difference in others’ lives (even if it turns out I can’t) …

I think I’m going to err on the side of LOVE — & not the “love” that feels warm & fuzzy when everything is going well (though that feeling is quite nice when it comes). I mean the LOVE that comes when we are being harmed and yet choose to forgive; I mean the LOVE that comes when we are tired or in pain and yet choose to get up and Care for another anyway; I mean the LOVE that comes when we go out of our way to extend Kindness to those we do not like.

After all, real LOVE is “an intense appreciation for another’s life via a reckless disregard for one’s own.” (anonymous) And this is the only LOVE that will create the change we all wish to see — this is the only LOVE that will bring us the deep-seated Peace & the Joy that are our true birthrights.

It takes guts to live this LOVE, of course, and yet that is what makes it so awesome when it is chosen. And if the little man in the photo can stare down that bull (naked, no less!), can’t we get out there and be Kind to our “enemies” — even just for five minutes?

I think we can!!!

So who’s with me?

Who’s ready to go forth today and do one “radically Kind” deed?

Who’s ready to step up and experience how it feels to LOVE?

Filed under: Wisdoms from the Journey by Scaughdt