LIGHT 24/7

I dubbed this blog and its accompanying Facebook group LOVE 24/7.  Not only do we all need love, but we need it at all times, and in a variety of ways.  More and more, I am learning the value and importance of constancy and consistency.

Yesterday, out of the blue, I posted these words as a Facebook update: "To the sun... there is no night..... ever".  I had no idea why I decided to post that, but it did get me pondering.  We tend to think of the good in our lives as being cyclical and fluctuating. The axiom 'It's always darkest before the dawn', while meant to cheer and bolster one who is going through a rough patch, still includes the concept that the sun's light is not constant in your life.  That things may be dark now but they are bound to get better.  

But what if you lived at the center of that sun?  Would you look out on a bleak canvas of blackness?  Or would you see your rays going out in every direction, lighting everything they touch, and doing so constantly... 24/7.  Now picture the same as it applies to the good and the love in your life.  Just because you may not see the sun or good or love for a time does not mean they are not there, nor does it mean they have dimmed or diminished.  

If your eyes are closed or you have ensconced yourself in a dark closet you may not be able to see the sun, let alone the wonderful things it is illuminating all around you.  But the fortunate news is, it is all still there.  You only need to get out of that closet or open your eyes.

The sun is there.
The good is there.
The love is there
24/7.

with light and love.....

They aren't considered the greatest of all time for nothing

Musical artists and pop groups come and go.  Sometimes they come, make a quick fortune, and then go .... the way of the dodo.

Not so for the musical quartet who have reigned as the best of the best among musical groups for the last half century.  And there is a reason for this.  Not only were they innovative, possessed solid musicianship and could write the catchiest of hooks, but they had a conscience, and love for the world in which they lived.

It was no surprise then that when the historic Our World global telecast was planned, the UK selected The Beatles to be the voice of their nation. The BBC requested the band come up with a song that contained a message simple enough to be understood by all nationalities. And what was the message they wanted to send out to the unprecedented 26 countries and 400 million listeners tuning in?  It was as simple and profound a sentiment as can be imagined.... the idea that all you need
is
love.

Manager Brian Epstein remarked, "The nice thing about it is that it cannot be misinterpreted. It is a clear message saying that love is everything."

To which John Lennon added, "I'm a revolutionary artist. My art is dedicated to change.'"

For the broadcast, The Beatles were seated on stools, surrounded by friends and acquaintances who sat on the floor and sang the fade-out refrain, many of whom were British pop stars themselves.

Released in the UK two days later, it went straight to number one.

Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game
It's easy.
There's nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you
in time - It's easy.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
There's nothing you can know that isn't known.
Nothing you can see that isn't shown.
Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be.
It's easy.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
All you need is love (all together now)
All you need is love (everybody)
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.

with love...

rock star

I was given an assignment by my LOVE 24/7 friend.  He asked me to write something about a guy who .... oh shoot, I can't recall exactly.  It was something along the lines of a guy who walks into the room, a mix of anger, frustration and confusion... I sense his angst and notice his face is tear-streaked.... his ailment is that he has never known love.  I am pretty sure I just mangled that description, but here is the from the heart stream-of-consciousness reply I zipped back... apparently I envisioned a rock star :)

His tempest preceded him

He jerked into the room, in changing shades of both Jeckyl and Hyde

His eyes red & swollen in mixed anguish and anger

He had always had the world at his feet

but now he floated in that awkward space of debris left cometing through space just after the Death Star exploded

He had all the earmarks of a trainspotter

the desperation

the need

the craving

The only difference being that what he most desired was actually good for him... something that would make his life... not ruin it

and yet

.... it went against everything he'd been taught

everything those around him believed

And so the tears flowed anew

in silent salient agony

till at last he allowed his mouth to part just enough to catch a falling droplet of his silent scream

And then the words came

more like audible thoughts really

"............ I can't do this anymore ...............

Everyone wil think i'm crazy

............. not that i care what other people think. it's just that ......................

and what will it do to my family

They think they know who i am!!!!!

How can I.........................

My mom will understand............... in fact she probably already knows.... somewhere.... deep down

....... she's always known actually

.......... that I have not been living the life that is meant to be mine

She always knew who I was even when I didn't

(his despair turning to welcomed understanding)

I mean........ as weird as it sounds, I always knew deep down that THIS is who I really was...... and what I really wanted........ but I lost sight of it somewhere along the way

........... 

and then it didn't seem to matter anymore

not cuz my life was bad

far from it!

In fact life has been great........ I mean reallllllllllllllly great

The stories I could tell you

The things i've seen

Sure I've had my struggles, just like the next guy

but overall I've had fun!

and to be honest, most of my friends envy me

but................

............................................ but ...............................

(suddenly sullen again)

it's not enough anymore

I guess it never was

The things i've always wanted

.......... I knew deep down they really existed

but they seemed so surreal for this world that I just figured they weren't something you could find on earth or in this lifetime

But I was wrong

........... which means I was right

all along

about everything

about a world and love so big it can't be contained within the puny framework our society is determined to be smothered and tortured by

(looking far beyond the walls before him)

I see it all now

see it so clearly

it is all there

within my reach

all I have to do is do the reaching

the rest is all done for me

................. in some ways I've never fit in, you see

my die was cast so early on

sports

rock n roll

girls

oh so many many girls

and yet............................................. so little love

I sing my heart out and reduce people to rubble with a single refrain

I break hearts with my poetry 

They say how tragically unbearably real my words are

how I have changed them with my words

that I have made them happy, made them sparkle, and smile and shine

Ha!

If they only knew

It's like I can dish it out but I can't take it

cuz I've never had it

and now that I can see it I'm almost too afraid to grab it

It's like I'm too paralyzed in my life to let it in

and that's all I really have to do

just 'let' it in

not force it

or go after it

Supposedly we guys value the stuff we have to work for and chase

..... but this is so much better than that.... and so much more beautiful.... so much more real

.......... this is everything i've ever wanted

....... t's even beyond my most beautiful dreams

and coming from a dreamer like me that's saying alot HAHAHA

(sigh)

I'm tired of talking

I'm tired period

exhausted more like it

not in a bad way

more in a cathartic way

.....so..................................."

-- another sigh.... this one deeper.... but much more serene.... his answers were gelling, his soul soothing, and his life changing

I saw before me a man shedding his own dead skin

transforming into the most exquisite creature imaginable.... his true self

He was at peace

Now i was the one in tears

as I gazed in wonder at this perfect being

My eyes widened and I stood

unexpectedly shaky on my feet, so full of the awesome love and truth to which I had just borne witness

He sat

looking more vulnerable than any grown man could possibly look

not weak, mind you.... just real... and unguarded... and incomprehensibly beautiful and brave

Without either of us noticing it, I walked over to him

embraced him as though within angels wings

holding him in impenetrable safety

without hardly touching him

I whispered into his ear, 'i love you'

He let out one last sigh

and something tangible left the room

It was the shell he'd been wearing all those years

the mask and habiliments that no longer fit him.... in fact they never really did

Neither of us spoke

I silently ran my fingers through his hair

My cheek next to his

.... and he just breathed

full, rich, deep breaths

like he was breathing for the first time

He fell asleep in my arms

a sleep (he later said) that was the sweetest he'd ever known

when he awoke he was a changed man

changed for good

.... and for 'good'

I still think back on that day

the day 'it' happened

He doesn't even remember it

or the man he was before it happened

It's like his life up to that point had all been a dream from which he finally awoke

only to find that his reality was much more amazing than his dream

That moment changed my life too

and has been a touchstone for all that's come since

I will never doubt again

Cymbals of Love

Evidence that we are loved is not always as obvious as a clanging cymbal... 
sometimes it is just a feeling of contentment from within, without a specific 'reason'.

A dozen red roses - Quick, what comes to mind?
That someone wants the recipient to know he or she is loved?
..... or perhaps that the giver is in the doghouse and repenting of some misdeed?


Our world is filled with precious symbols and reminders of love -- from a carpet of colorful wildflowers showing us love on a divine scale, to an I <3 U mug full of Hershey's kisses anonymously left in our cubicle... from a message strewn across the sky for all to see, to a simple silent pat on the knee.  We all appreciate these tangible, visible proofs of affection.  But what if someone lacks outward displays of affection?  Does that mean they must live a life without love?


Hardly... and that is because the love is not IN the symbol used to show it.  Love is in our hearts -- the hearts of both giver and receiver.  And so it can no more be taken from us, anymore than our loved ones'  affection can be taken away once the flowers they've given us have withered and been tossed in the rubbish bin.


This idea is not limited to romantic affection only.  This morning, a dear one was explaining to me how some work she'd arranged to have done on a property was taking longer than it should and, as a result, would end up costing her a lot of money, since she would not be able to rent the property as quickly and thus not have the income from the rent she could charge.  We have all been in similar situations.  They can be stressful and frustrating and sometimes all-consuming.


I thought for a moment about her situation.  Everything she said made perfect practical sense..... Then I thought a bit more deeply to get to the real root of the issue.
OK so why would she want the work done more quickly?  To be able to get the place rented.... to be able to get the income from renting it.... In other words, to have more money.  And what good would more money do her?  Well, she would not be so strapped financially.  She would have cash to pay bills, buy Christmas presents, shop for a nice holiday outfit, go out on the town without having to count her pennies, and put a little away in savings.

I went still deeper.... Why would she want all those things... What would they do for her?  Well, the extra money would take away stress and give her greater peace of mind.  It boosts our literal sense of self-worth and esteem to be caught up on our bills.  It makes us feel good to show our love to others by giving them gifts picked out specially for them.  We feel like a million bucks when we get to dress up in a smart new outfit. It is freeing and validating to be able to go out socially without the worry of financial restraint looming overhead; and having some money in savings lets us breathe easy and enables us to be less apprehensive about the future because we are at least somewhat financially prepared.


So, among other things, money is a symbol of the way we want to feel... that is a topic too irresistible not to discuss in depth.... but later.... For now I merely want to point to its relevance to our example.  In essence, my friend wanted that extra money because of the way it would ultimately make her feel, as described above.  Yes, money is a wonderful symbol of love, but it is just that.... a symbol.  What if you could have the love, the peace of mind, the sense of incredible well-being without the money?


I have less money and 'stuff' than I have ever had in my life.... and I have never been happier or felt more secure.  Why?  Because instead of money, that lovely symbol of love, I have the Love itself -- the love that no robber or stock market crash can take away... the kind of value and worth that is not only permanent, it compounds daily.  This is better than the gold standard.  It is the LOVE standard.  I am finding that my happiness has nothing to do with having more stuff or money or even a romantic relationship; rather I have less want and need, because I am already full up with love.

And so I would tell anyone struggling with lack this season, whether it is lack of funds or affection, to turn away from the symbols of love in favor of going to the source, which is always within.  You will find you are overflowing with love, and you will find ways to both give and receive it.... and that is true economy!

with so much love,
Joy