When I look at the power, greed, corruption and manipulation of people throughout this world, I sometimes have to wonder what happened to that vision of hope, peace, joy and love that our recent religious festivities were all about.
We need to educate people about the realities of today, and how we have to save ourselves from destroying each other and the world we live in. By not totally loving and accepting each other, regardless of our ethnic origin, race, sexual orientation or addiction problems, we are ignoring the main spiritual message that has come to our world through many religions.
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The words that pull people together at religious times, even if they are not religious, are those of hope, peace, joy and love. But how can we experience peace, hope or joy without love? What is love?
In Mitch Albom’s book, Tuesdays with Morrie, Morrie Schwartz, just a few weeks before dying of ALS, describes the difference between humans and plants and animals. All of them are born and must eventually die. But Schwartz said, “as long as we can love each other, and remember the feeling of love we had, we can die without ever really going away. All the love you created is still there. All the memories are still there. You live on in the hearts of everyone you have touched and nurtured while you were here.” To Schwartz, love is another way of describing soul.
Another author, Brenda Schaefer, in her book Is It Love or Is It Addiction?, says the problems in love relationships stem not from the nature of love.
“True love is life-giving. It is an expansive nourishing energy that knows no limits. It does not injure, it heals.”
If we look at festive seasons as a celebration of spiritual love of all kinds, perhaps we can recognize that love is the key for the survival of our world today. Love of self, love of others and love of the earth and environment are all part of the message from all religious and spiritual groups.
As humans, we can’t love perfectly. That is why it is important to know there is an energy, a force that accepts us as we are, and holds out to us hope, peace, joy and love, which can make today the beginning of many special days for us.
Peter Griffiths is a mental health counsellor based in Prince Albert, Sask. His columns are intended as general advice only. His website is www.sasktelwebsite.net/petecope.
