Return to Love

In my post last week entitled Reveal Yourself (read it here) I shared about receiving guidance from a reading in the book, The Book of Light, Ask and Heaven Will Answer. This week, I am sharing about guidance I received from a telephone session with Rev. Aliza Bloom Robinson, a call with my prayer partner, Rev. Karen Romestan, and written words from three insightful women.

Aliza is a friend, Unity minister, soul guide and author of the newly released book, Falling Into Ease. I worked with her as my spiritual guide for a time several years ago. During a meditation last week, I was guided to call her and set up an appointment. So, I did.

I shared with her some of my recent internal dialog. I told her about my questioning around whether I am doing the “right” things, in the “right” place, or even in the “right” career. She listened intently to my mind chatter and extended her empathy and compassion. But, she did not let me stay stuck in those questions. She intuited that those might not be the questions that will serve me best.

Aliza gently guided me, through visualization and suggestion, to go beyond the mind, deeper into the sacred heart and listen for the question there. As I followed her direction, my awareness landed in a space of profound connection. Tears came as I heard – “What is my soul’s highest purpose?” And, “What do I need to do to live it?”

I knew in that moment that these are the questions that will lead me to the fulfillment I seek. While I would prefer a clear picture of at least the next few turns along my path, if not the entire journey and a roadmap to navigate it all, it was revealed to me that that is not the way it works. I am to live in the question and trust that each step will reveal itself as I stay open to my soul’s guidance and follow where it leads me.

My session with Aliza was last Friday. Since then, I have been allowing the questions to reverberate in my heart and mind.

On Tuesday, during my weekly call with my prayer partner, Rev. Karen Romestan, minister at Unity on Greenville in Dallas, TX, I shared with her some of my process. She said, “Can I ask you a question?” I responded, “Of course.” She asked if, when asking about my soul’s highest purpose, whether I receive one answer with varied themes or diverse answers.

As I briefly sat with her question, I became clear that I do, in fact, receive only one answer, but with variations on the theme. That answer is, “Your soul’s highest purpose is to be Love.” When I shared that with Karen, she gasped in delighted recognition. She shared that she receives the same answer, but she had wondered if she was simply not listening closely enough.

We agreed that mastering being love with every thought, word and action is a great enough assignment for any lifetime. Together, we made the commitment to begin each morning with the prayer, “How can I be Love today?”

As happens quite often, once I ask a question, my mind takes off to find the answer. Unfortunately, the mind can lead me away from the path to love rather than lead me to it. I have discovered through my own efforts and struggles that Love must first be experienced in the heart. The heart can then inspire the mind with thoughts, words and actions that are imbued with Love.

I have also found that writing about ‘Love’ and speaking about ‘Love’ can be challenging. What is this thing called ‘Love?’ When I asked the question, I was reminded of the words of some insightful authors.

My friend, spiritual teacher, author, and Unity minister, Diadra Price, writes in her book Grace Awakening Essence,

In its stirrings, we can feel [Love], accept it, testify to it, but it can’t be measured, or proved by any means of the world…You activate this benevolent movement through faith and trust, total peace, and fearlessness of heart. You feel it in the stillness of the soul, even in a world of turmoil and chaos…Love reveals and heals, it enlightens and teaches. Love draws forth its own and transforms all into its image and likeness…Love brings to mind, from Mind itself, all ideas to serve God’s world.

In a conversation during our new member class this past Saturday, I was reminded of the book that started me on my conscious spiritual quest, Return to Love, by Marianne Williamson, which is her interpretation of the principle teachings of A Course in Miracles. I have long ago misplaced or given away my copy of the book, so I downloaded the Kindle version. In the introduction, Williamson says,

Love is what we were born with. Fear is what we have learned here. The spiritual journey is the relinquishing – or unlearning – of fear and the acceptance of love back into our hearts. It is our ultimate existential fact. It is our ultimate reality and our purpose on earth. To be consciously aware of it, to experience love in ourselves and others, is the meaning of life.

Life coach, consultant, and author, Deborah Jane Wells offers keen insight. In her book, Choose Your Energy, Change YourLife, Deborah offers a comprehensive practical guide to relinquishing fear and allowing love to be your primary energy. Her book is a heart-centered handbook to loving yourself, which is the first step in living love and beginning to truly embody  love. In talking about love and fear, she says,

I concluded there are two fundamental types of core energy: love and fear. When I examined the primary energy underneath any thought, feeling, word, or deed, I found love or fear, or some combination of the two.

Love is constructive and moves you forward. Fear is destructive and holds you back. Love is the author of truth and reality. Fear is the author of lies and illusion.

As I breathe into my heart and consider the wisdom offered by these amazing women, I realize more profoundly than ever that living my soul’s highest purpose, “to be love,” begins with a deep heart connection. I choose to begin each day consciously attuning to my heart through prayer and meditation, aligning with the energy of Love, the unconditional Love that is the “benevolent movement,” as Diadra says, of God/Source/Universe/Life. It is the “benevolent movement” as me. It is the “benevolent movement” as all others and all creation. It is the “benevolent movement” in which we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28).

Further, I ask my heart, “How can I be Love today?” I have faith and trust that it will be revealed to me in every moment that I am willing and able to keep my heart and mind open to receive the answer.

Additionally, I commit to self-connection practice. I take every opportunity to place my hand over my heart, take a deep breath, and feel the energy of Love radiating there. I ask my heart, “How do I live Love in this moment?” And, I listen in the peaceful silence of my deep inner connection.

With “fearlessness of heart” I take the inspired action, and speak the love-imbued word.

It is clear to me that living Love is a moment-by-moment choice. It requires us to set a clear intention to “be Love;” consciously surrender to Love; connect deeply with self and others; follow our heart’s guidance; and speak and act fearlessly in service to Love.

It is my prayer that I will allow Love to transform me at depth so that Love becomes my way of life. My sincere hope is that you will join me.

Join us on Sunday at 10:00 at Unity Spiritual Center Denver, as together we explore what it may look like to commit to living Love and extending Love to yourself.

Additionally, if you are blessed or inspired by these posts or my Sunday lessons, which are available on YouTube, I encourage you to make a donation  to support the ministry of Unity Spiritual Center Denver. Thank you!