Learning What's Important
I seem to have a hard time with certain expressions that are said a lot and that I don’t really understand. I seem to have an objection to phrases that become well-worn. No matter how ideal they are, I am just a tiny bit at odds with them. One of them is the phrase unconditional love. Now who could object to that concept?
It’s not that I object to the concept. In fact, I love the idea. I object to the widespread use of the word, as if unconditional love could be turned on just as easily as it is to say it. As if it were a common thing.
Maybe what I object to most is my lack of ability to apply it, and my skepticism of its practical application altogether.
Loving no matter what seems far away. What it would be, as I see it, is that no matter who or what someone is, I wouldn’t mind. I would love them anyway. The idea that I will love anyway becomes my first difficulty, for doesn’t the word anyway make that statement ring with judgment, and doesn’t judgment have to be the opposite of unconditional love?
If I were to say that I will love unconditionally, aren’t I saying: “Despite how I see you, how you seem to appear to me, despite what you say and do, despite even any opinion you have of me or my family or my country, I will love you just the same.
Comments
This is so enlightening, Gloria, and so funny! Loving "anyway" is indeed a mind-twisting concept. I never looked at it from that angle. But is it not a valuable and valid first step? Perhaps not. Perhaps what we, sometimes glibly, call "unconditional love" will only come when love is not so conscious of itself any more, when it just happens and is no longer "done" . We will get there.
Wonderful entry, Gloria!
I feel this entry regards me personally, as I often sign my posts 'with unconditional love'. With this expression I do not mean that I love everyone or someone 'despite of...'. I truly feel that we are all one within, and in this sense my love is unconditional. There are people whose personality and acts are unbearable and unacceptable to me, but I do not love them 'despite of these'. I love the beautiful 'soul' within them, so maybe I should say 'I love the God in you'. Namaste.
Oh, dear Paula, I never noticed how you sign your posts! It was not personal to you, dear one! If it were, I would never have posted this entry. Paula, I read fast -- I glance. I am so sorry to have given that impression in any way -- that this entry could be directed to you. I
I love Namaste too.
I just hear people say certain expressions a lot, and the expressions somehow seem to lose their meaning for me.
Dear Gloria,
I never thought that you meant me, I just wanted to explain my point of view regarding unconditional love.
And this is an interesting entry, it would have been a shame not to write it.
Namaste!
Paula
Dear Paula, You just said what I was going to say and you say it so much better. Love someone or something as a creation of God. what they does with what is given to them is quit another thing. I would rescue a politician from drowning if I could, but I would not like his actions or opinions expressed in parliament. Difficult Gloria, yes very much so and thank you for bringing it out so each of us can think about it. Anyway I love you all and have fun Jack
Thank you for your beautiful post, Gloria. When I think of other people in the world, whether they are in my personal life or not (whether I "know" them or not), what usually comes to me is a circle of children around me with me in the center. (we are all in the center of our own circle is just way of putting it). So all of these children ar surrounding me with maybe the ones in the first row or ring, the ones I already know. But its a ring that is infinitely deep...that is expanding infinitely with all of the people (as children) of the world. And my utmost honor...and privilege...is to long all of them...from my heart...regardless of what my mind may think about them. And yes...one could say this is unconditional love...even though this term is somewhat of a spiritual cliche...that is okay with me too...I just love the cliche part too...It does not detract or subtract from both the intimacy and vastness and potency of authentic love from th heart of one to the heart of another or to the billions of hearts of those "others' "out there". Loving you always...Jim and Jimi.
ps: meant to say "...is to love all of them...from my heart..." not "...is to long all of them...from my heart". But..."long" is beautiful too but not quite it...in this context. Jim.
Jim, what you write is very special and filled with real love. Thank you.
Thank you Gloria...and Jimi wants to say something about the circle (from the above discussion)..."It makes me very happy when I have so many children to love. They sit in a circle around me...and then love comes from my heart to theirs...regardless of how Jim sees them...or regardless of how other people from the outside world see them. So their faces and dress and bodies may be all different: For example: Their faces may be bruised or cut or dirty or not; their clothes may not fit or be dirty or not; their hands may be dirty or not, they may be seated or not; they may be crippled or hurt or not.....and their eyes...they may be shinny and emanating love or not. But...deep into their hearts I look, and all I see is pure love and light...because that's how my father made them and me too. So, I see and I watch and I love them...I love them...and I love them...I love both their inner heart...and I love all of the different disguises and masks and appearances that I see...and I love all of the thoughts of their minds and i love all of their pasts and futures too. So...I just keep loving All of them all of the time...cause that's what my Father send me here to do cause He gave me so much Love to do this with cause He loves me so much and somehow I trusted Him enough so that more Love would come through to love all of the world's children and to especially Love you (whoever is reading this in addition to Gloria) And you know a secret? When I am in the center of the circle just watching and loving, sometimes one of the children will stand up and come towards me...closer...and closer and closer and as they walk closer I feel more and more of the lovve for them in my Heart...and then maybe they collapse into my lap...and then their minds and bodies fall asleep but their heart opens!...their heart blooms like a special flower. That is so beautiful...is it not Gloria? Thank you for listening to this Gloria. You have a wonderful, loving heart. Loving and blessing you always, " Jimi.
Very beautiful!