What Would Love Do?

Recently I was in a discussion with others whom I perceived to be spiritually aware. The conversation centered on helping those in need, namely the homeless. One of the participants in the conversation made the statement "the best thing we can do for them is pray.” I was “triggered” when I heard that comment. I felt arising within me irritation, and disappointment. I interpreted the remark to imply that it is not our responsibility to actually provide physical assistance. I felt somewhat dismayed as I experienced my interpretation and evaluation of what had been said.

I am now convinced that I was “triggered” because I have heard similar statements expressed before by people I perceive as loving, caring, and spiritually attuned, and have thought it not a compassionate answer. Further, I have been living in the question, “What is mine to do in response to the suffering in the world?” I have not yet come into my knowing about that. I readily admit that it is often challenging to know how to respond to our brothers and sisters who are hurting, homeless or hungry; however, I believe that it is our responsibility to serve our fellow humans from love. I may not agree that prayer is the “best thing we can do;” however, I do believe it is the first thing we can and should do, and it is just the beginning.

I wholeheartedly believe in the power of prayer. Prayer is a spiritual practice that we use in order to transform our own consciousness. Through prayer we align our consciousness with Pure Consciousness, called by many names, among them God, Divine Mind, and Universal Intelligence. As Saint Paul said, “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). In order to transform the world, we must begin with our own minds. Prayer is one way to transform our minds.

We must not only transform our consciousness through prayer, we must embody the spirit of Jesus and walk in the world responding to those who show up along our path. As Unity minister and author, Eric Butterworth, said, “Jesus is not one in whom God specialized: Jesus is one who specialized in God.” Jesus, through the practice of prayer aligned his mind in Oneness, thus “specializing in God.”  This is demonstrated by his words, “The Father and I are one” (John 10:30) and “Those who have seen me have seen the Father” (John 14:9). Jesus knew his Unity in God, and he embodied and expressed it.  In the conscious knowing of oneness Jesus fed the hungry, healed the sick, and ministered to those who were hurting. We teach that Jesus is the great example, not the great exception. We must ask ourselves, “How do we follow his example?”

Jesus told his disciples that the greatest commandment is “to Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and that the second is like it; love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39). We love God with all our heart, soul and mind when we open to the awareness of Pure Consciousness as our ever-present reality on all levels of our being; when we know our oneness. In the consciousness of oneness, we know our neighbors as ourselves. We hold them in the consciousness of prayer, and we follow Jesus’ example and give from the energy of Love through expressions of care and compassion, not only in the forms of food, clothing and shelter, but also in the forms of a kind word and caring touch.

So, perhaps, rather than asking, “What is mine to do?” a more fitting question for me to ask is “What would Love do?” As I can live in that question and allow the answer to be revealed in every moment, I come nearer to following Jesus’ example. I know it is time for me to take action. But, what action to take? I will follow where Love leads, remain conscious of who and what shows up along my path, and do as I am led.

Please join us on Sunday for our 10:00 service as we explore together the question, “What would Love do?”