Fresh Thinking, Inspiration, and Vision on the Process of Spiritual Transformation

I’ve never put much faith in predictions, least of all my own. Nevertheless, I have a prediction for 2011. This is a prediction that I can do something about.

The prediction is more love. This makes real the radical message received so long ago from the one known as Jesus. It lands in my consciousness as three little words: “Love one another.” I could take that on as a New Year’s resolution and use it to squeeze myself and force myself into, with willpower. That is not the truth of love.

Look at it this way: It is a radical message. It’s also elusive because when the idea “Love one another” comes up, people nod and smile, “Yes! Of course. What a great idea. Let’s do that.” But who’s doing something about it? Who’s actually taking the steps to be in a place to actually love one another?

The truth is that you only know what you express. I only know what I express. When I do a personal inventory, I see if there are places where I feel rancor, jealousy, fear, greed, and the rest knocking around inside, even if they are not expressed openly. To the extent that I do, I’m not expressing love. When any of these lower spirits find a place in me, that’s what I know—and that’s not the truth of me. That means, to some degree or other, I am believing and expressing a lie.

It comes down to this question: Do I really know love? Here is a question you might ask yourself: Do you really know love? Loving one another includes myself for me, includes loving yourself for you. This has been a stumbling block for me, and most likely a stumbling block for others. After all, who knows my foibles, weaknesses and failures better than me? Who knows the parts, the behaviors and the old story that could seem to be unlovable and unworthy? Again, these things aren’t the truth of me. I’ve also found it interesting that the word foible has the same root as the word feeble. Who wants to be feeble in the world? To be a strong, true presence and bring love requires loving oneself.

This is the fulfillment of the first great Commandment: Love the Wonderful One within with all. We start here as our still point and we can be active in the world without being distracted away from love by behaviors, circumstances and challenges. Love one another, including yourself.

If you would like to share your vision of what you see emerging from a spiritual standpoint in this coming year, send us an e-mail at . We will post some of what we receive on our Pulse of Spirit web page.