"Great is the power of love. Love does not rely on another's favor but is satisfied with its own deserts. Conscious that it loves, it ASSUMES that it is always loved."
Gilbert of Hoyland,
12th century Cistercian monk
Since we are naturally social creatures, it is easy sometimes to fall into a funk when others do not seem to care about us, or when they make us feel like we have screwed up. In other words, we have a tendency to define ourselves based on the reactions of others. However, Gilbert helps us understand that the dignity of our core self is more an assumed reality than one that needs proof. Perhaps the reason why we so often don't FEEL this truth is because it is so fundamental it never even appears! However, we can act on the unseen truth of our dignity by loving everything around us. This ability to love is like an echo of an inner loveableness that is too fundamental to be "heard." Indeed, that is precisely the mystery of life - the fact that everything is an echo of a divine love-word that is too fundamental to appear in words or feelings. For that voiceless word exists at the very core of our being.
Photo: Ponderosa Pine growing amidst red cliffs; Red Mountain Natural Area, Larimer County, CO; October 19, 2013
If you'd like to make a donation to help fund Nature Photo-Quotes, please go here. Thanks!
No comments:
Post a Comment