Divine Love in Action
They say that there is nothing more powerful than love. Love can move mountains and heal broken hearts; it can raise the dead, make miracles, cure the sick, the list goes on and on. In short, there is nothing that love can’t do. The love I speak of is Divine Love, the kind that just loves because it is ITS nature to do so; it expects nothing in return and it rejoices in giving.
Divine Love needs instruments for it to manifest in the physical realm. The one requirement to be a clear vehicle for the Divine is to have an open heart.
Recently, I was reminded of a couple of situations when I was able to experience firsthand and participate in the wondrous power of Love by choosing to be a channel for it.
A while back, I volunteered in the children’s room during a yearly spiritual seminar I used to attend. Many times I would be an activity leader for the age groups of 5-7 or 8-10 years old.
This one time I was volunteering during the evening session as support to the activity leader within a group ages 8-10. The children were asked to sit on the floor and quietly watch a movie. The woman in charge of the group had asked me to keep an eye on three boys who had been disruptive and misbehaving the entire day. Apparently, these three little guys had a reputation of working together and getting into fights with the other kids. “Keep them separate from the others. Stay with them all the way in the back of the room and be very firm with them. I want no more trouble. I have had enough of them already.” She addressed me and the kids.
I took a moment to look at the boys as they were being scolded. Something deep inside their eyes struck a familiar chord in my heart. I saw and felt their concealed pain and loneliness.
The woman stormed away to dim the lights in the room and start the movie.
The boys looked at me as if waiting to be scolded some more and to be escorted to the back of the room, away from everyone else. Instead, I sat down behind the last row of children, closed my eyes and turned to the Divine for help.
“Holy Spirit, please open my heart to love these boys. It seems that they really need to feel that they are loved right now.” I prayed.
I felt my heart open much like a flower ready to receive the warmth of sunlight in gratitude.
“Let Love Be” Spirit whispered in my heart. And so I did. With no expectation, no desires, I sat there and loved the children with all my heart.
At first, the three boys were taken aback from my lack of a usual engagement and stood there staring at me. Then, I heard them confabulate with one another, perhaps trying to figure out what I was up to and what would be the best strategy on their part.
Finally, there was silence and then a slow movement in my direction. The three of them surrounded me, two on each side and one in the back. They sat down and gently leaned their bodies and heads on me. I stroked their heads softly as a loving mother would do to her child. I felt their gentle and loving hearts melt together into the flow of Divine Love. The three boys sat quietly throughout the movie taking in the love that the Holy Spirit was unconditionally and freely giving them.
My eyes happened to glance towards a far corner of the room to find the leader of the group watching in astonished disbelief the transformation that had taken place. I smiled at her and opened my heart to include her and the entire room in the circle of love. She smiled back as grace descended upon her and softened her entire body.
Divine Love is always present and as near as our own heart.
I will post the second story at another time.
The Road Home 