“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
I have the good fortune to live less than a ten-minute walk from the “I Have a Dream Memorial” in City Park here in Denver. Since I walk by it several times a week on my walks through the park, I often reflect on the short life and huge legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
This weekend at church, I learned something new about his message of love. He talked about how he didn’t always like someone or like their actions, but he knew he was called to love them.
I’d never thought about liking and loving that way and it resonated deep within me. Bringing love to situations that I don’t necessarily like calls me to act from the better part of me. If I see all of my words and actions on a continuum from the darkest/meanest part of me to the lightest/kindest part of me, then I chose to make a practice of choosing the love end of the spectrum more.
While it certainly isn’t always easy to love someone or some situation that I don’t like, I absolutely know it is worth the spiritual practice and spiritual discipline. I am deeply and humbly grateful for the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. His message inspires me to do my part in leaving my own legacy of love.
Would you like to join me? What message is calling you right now? How can you more fully live something that you value, something that calls to you as yours to do? Feel free to post your answers in the "Comments."
Recently, every time I’ve turned around, I’ve had another opportunity to consciously choose my focus and choose my thoughts as I noticed my focus and thoughts heading toward negativity and fear.
As I pondered what might be causing so many opportunities all at once, I realized I have gotten lax about my daily spiritual practice. Several months ago I had gotten the smallest iPod, the Shuffle, so that I could listen to Michael Beckwith talks and inspirational music as I walked in the park. I have found this double dose of spiritual practice – the talk and the walk – does wonders for keeping my focus in the right place. Yet, I’ve only done my double dose a few times – not even weekly, much less daily.
When my daily spiritual practice is daily, I exponentially increase my ability to choose to focus on positivity, possibilities and love.
How about you? What works for you to keep your focus where you’d like it?
I’ve included a new piece, “Love in Action” that is helping me keep my focus on love – enjoy!
Love in Action
Feeling afraid . . .
Feeling hopeless . . .
Feeling stuck . . .
Have I finally, truly gone insane?
Do I definitely need medication?
Is it time to admit defeat?
Or . . .
Are these the panicked cries of my ego?
Longing to once again be in charge?
As I step into the unknown,
I desperately desire something familiar . . .
Taking a deep breath,
I realize the comfort of my breathing.
Something familiar:
My breath, my breathing, my Spirit.
Something familiar:
As I breathe deeply,
feeling my Spirit,
I feel Love,
pure, radiant, shimmering Love.
Something familiar:
As I feel Love,
pure, radiant, shimmering Love,
I know Love in Action.
Something familiar:
As I know Love in Action,
I feel myself putting one foot in front of the other
as I step into Love in Action.
Courageously moving forward
into the unknown
as Love in Action . . .
