Stick to Love

"I have decided to stick to love ...

Hate is too great a burden to bear."

Martin Luther King, Jr

A priest was conducting a question and answer session about unconditional love.  The audience was responding to various topics such as forgiveness, mindfulness, and boundaries.  An attractive woman in her forties politely raised her hand.

The well dressed woman commented, "I am so deeply wounded I cannot forgive."  She continued to describe how her ex-husband had hurt her.  She portrayed a lonely life she found unbearable especially since her husband remarried.  The priest allowed the drama to unfold until the woman was weeping.  He gently walked to her side and asked, "When did this happen?"

The woman took a deep breath and replied, "Ten years ago."  The gathered audience was silent.  The priest placed his hand on the weeping woman's shoulder and said, "Ah! He has moved along living his life very happily, but you are still allowing him to hurt you."

The point of course is no matter how badly we are hurt, we have the choice to release the pain or carry it along with us.  The way to releasing pain is through forgiveness.  When our love turns to hate, we do damage to ourselves physically.  Our wounds can turn our love to hate which creates a growing heaviness upon our body, mind, and spirit.  We make the choice to remain stuck.  We allow the pain to grow deeper and deeper impacting every aspect of our lives.  We have allowed someone else to determine how our life is unfolding.

We are love.  We are meant to love ourselves and others.  If our love towards someone is not accepted, then we choose to not judge, but seek opportunities to meet kindred spirits.  We maintain clear boundaries to protect our well being.

We prosper when we believe in ourselves and with integrity move forward.  When we forgive (not condone) the unkindness of one other, we can use the energy to rebuild our sense of balance.  As we focus on our personal strengths and gently self-nurture we will eventually heal.