Many of us are in the stage of life where seeking, understanding and living in our “purpose” is taking center stage. “Why am I here?” “What legacy will I leave?” “What have I been called to do?” “How can I make the world a better place?” Discovering the answers to these questions is a deeply personal process – one that comes from hearing and honoring your own inner voice.
I believe we each have a distinct purpose – something we are uniquely called to be and do. I also believe there’s more…that we are called to a common purpose, a purpose which will lead us to a clearer understanding of our individual, unique purpose. That common purpose is LOVE.
Moses gave us an indication when he cited the great command (purpose) “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your strength” in the Old Testament. Jesus Christ underscored that command (purpose) in the New Testament and added, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Here’s a question for you: Is it important to love and honor the purpose for which you were created or is it important to love and honor the one who created you for that purpose? I believe the answer is YES. Loving the purpose and loving the one who created you for a purpose are interdependent – it’s a polarity. How can we live in divine purpose without honoring and loving the one who created us for that purpose? Conversely, how can we honor and love the one who created us for a specific purpose without loving and honoring that purpose?
Let’s take this a step further. How can we love the Divine Creator without loving ourselves and how can we love ourselves without loving our neighbors? Okay, I know it’s not always easy to keep this expansive level of loving going. At times it can be downright hard, especially when the line between our neighbor’s [or our] detestable acts seems to meld into their [our] being. As Ghandi noted, “Hate the sin and not the sinner is a precept which though easy enough to understand is rarely practiced.” Nevertheless, we are called to do it.
Not hating the sinner is one thing. Loving them, as Christ commanded, is another. Is it possible for us? I believe it is if we will “Be Still and Know God.” In the stillness, in the moments of truly knowing God, I believe we will begin to know ourselves and our neighbors and out of this divine knowing will come divine love.
“How can we make a difference in the world?” “How can we rid the world of hatred?” Here’s a bit of wisdom. Buddha said, “Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.” Nikki (age 6) said, “If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.” Out of the mouths of babes! Now that’s love for you. And that’s purpose.
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