Passion

Sixteen at Any Age January 18 2010


Sweet sixteen – open-hearted, gentle --

Newly minted, freshly grown –

Dewy-eyed, dissolving on discovering love.



As decades pass,

Our heart strings thicken,

Their crystal music dulled and deadened--

Their sublime response encrusted with both scars and cares.

Only happening again upon new love

Can whisk away the weight of time,

And magically restore the blissful tones, the thrill

Of tender, blushing adoration.



Reflection

Our spiritual oxygen is composed of love, in all its guises. We swim, move, exist, in an atmosphere composed of love. Without love, we suffocate; we gasp and choke and suffer. The higher the concentration of love we can generate and experience, the greater our level of blissful awareness.

I was with a group of people yesterday. We were focused on being attuned to loving spiritual energy. But one individual who was present beside us -- not a member of the group -- was frowning upon our presence and our activities, grumbling and complaining that we were there meditating. His energy was dark and discouraging, his presence glaring, frowning, dampening. He was unhappy and was suffering. We prayed together for his discovery of the light of love. He left, and the energy of the room lightened perceptibly. I would not have believed such a difference was possible had I not experienced it.

When we’re in the presence of love, we lighten up perceptibly. We purr with happiness. Whether experiencing moments of tender friendship or joyful celebration, our hearts sing. The hearts of all who are with us sing in harmony while sharing loving energy. We hate to think of leaving.

I have been incredibly blessed to have lived with and learned from a partner, Ellen, who brought light and love consistently to others. Her questions, “Have you thought of…?” or “How is that for you?,” radiated love and acceptance, and people experienced her in gladness. I feel deeply fortunate now to be able still to appreciate her loving presence, though in different form, and also to experience and share love with others whose special beauty I appreciate – to find love spreading around me like a carpet of wildflowers. Falling in love, over and over, with a new person or with loyal friends, with the beauties of nature or of art, with the smiles of children and the frolicking of puppies… Finding love is bliss.