“Remember: if you want to make progress on the path and ascend to places you have longed for, the important thing is not to think much but to love much, and so to do whatever best awakens you to love.” Teresa of Avila, The Interior Castle (1577)
Jesus told us the most important thing to remember is “love God and love your neighbor as yourself.” In other words, our life in Christ is all about love, love, love. It sounds easy, but in reality I’ve found nothing is more difficult.
When I think back through this past week, I did a small bit of loving others but most of my time was spent judging people and offering advice they weren’t seeking. I value thinking over loving almost every time, and this habit does not help me progress on the spiritual path. So what can I do to improve? Teresa’s answer would be “Lezlie, do whatever best awakens you to love,” so I’m pondering what might help me rouse myself into better loving.
Sister Timothy Kirby, one of the members of the book club I attend, comes to mind right away because this week our group met over lunch to discuss The Elegance of the Hedgehog. Sister Tim has lived in the monastery for seventy years, and she is one of the most loving, generous people I’ve ever met. When I’m with her, I find myself filled with patience and loving kindness which spills over into the rest of the day. My family probably wishes book club day could be every day…Tim’s love is contagious, and we are all better for it. She definitely wakes me up to what’s most important in life, and she and I plan to be together again—just the two of us—very soon.
I don’t know how other people keep love alive inside them, but I’d be interested in hearing how you do it. In the days and weeks to come, my hope is that we will follow Teresa’s advice and find ourselves doing more and more of whatever best awakens us to lovelovelove!
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