Love Cannot Be Hidden

I am reading a little book called "Let Nothing Disturb You." It's a 30-day meditation book based on the works of Teresa of Avila.

Today's meditation is this:

My Day Begins:

The soul that truly loves God
loves all good,
protects all good,
praises all good,
joins itself to good people,
helps and defends them,
and embraces all the virtues.
It loves only what is truly worth loving.

Do you think that it is possible
for anyone who truly loves God,
to care for vanities, riches,
or worldly pleasures and honors?
Such a person cannot quarrel or feel envy,
for she aims at nothing
but pleasing the object of her love.
Whether your love of God is great or small,
it must show itself.
Love for God can never be concealed.

When you love God deeply,
it will be plainly evident in many ways,
for a large fire throws a bright and clear flame.

A love that is strong and just,
that grows for as long as we live,
that there is no reason ever to end,
a love that is returned so fully --
can a love such as this be concealed?

If you ask me how such a love is to be attained,
my answer is:
Resolve firmly to do and suffer for God,
putting your resolution into action
whenever the opportunity occurs.
Your love must not be just something you imagine,
something you desire.
You must prove it by works.


I think this is beautiful, and I would like to modify it a bit, either to include in the "Marriage Address" portion of a wedding ceremony, and/or to offer as a vow that might be included in personal vows.

Is it appropriate for a wedding ceremony? I would love your thoughts and comments.

Love,
Rev. Jeri

New Year's Resolution - 2010

"Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor... Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.

Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting."

-- Mother Teresa

Falling In Love is Like Owning a Dog

For lovers and others who love dogs:

FALLING IN LOVE IS LIKE OWNING A DOG
(an epithalamion by Taylor Mali)

First of all, it's a big responsibility,
especially in a city like New York.
So think long and hard before deciding on love.
On the other hand, love gives you a sense of security:
when you're walking down the street late at night
and you have a leash on love
ain't no one going to mess with you.
Because crooks and muggers think love is unpredictable.
Who knows what love could do in its own defense?

On cold winter nights, love is warm.
It lies between you and lives and breathes
and makes funny noises.
Love wakes you up all hours of the night with its needs.
It needs to be fed so it will grow and stay healthy.

Love doesn't like being left alone for long.
But come home and love is always happy to see you.
It may break a few things accidentally in its passion for life,
but you can never be mad at love for long.

Is love good all the time? No! No!
Love can be bad. Bad, love, bad! Very bad love.

Love makes messes.
Love leaves you little surprises here and there.
Love needs lots of cleaning up after.
Sometimes you just want to get love fixed.
Sometimes you want to roll up a piece of newspaper
and swat love on the nose,
not so much to cause pain,
just to let love know Don't you ever do that again!

Sometimes love just wants to go for a nice long walk.
Because love loves exercise.
It runs you around the block and leaves you panting.
It pulls you in several different directions at once,
or winds around and around you
until you're all wound up and can't move.

But love makes you meet people wherever you go.
People who have nothing in common but love
stop and talk to each other on the street.

Throw things away and love will bring them back,
again, and again, and again.
But most of all, love needs love, lots of it.
And in return, love loves you and never stops.

A sweet expression of love!

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all feel this loving towards others, even if they are "different" from us?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rooyt3ptNco

Rev. Jeri

Four and a half years ...

I love to make Treasure Maps. I do one every year with a group of wonderful women.

A few years ago, I took a serious look at what I wanted in a relationship, and then I created a Treasure Map. "I am Thriving in my Loving Relationship" was in the center of the Map. I wanted to find the love of my life.

And four and a half years ago, after trading emails on Match.Com for a few days, I agreed to meet "DRRB" at the movie theater in Arden Fair Mall.

We shook hands upon first greeting -- I knew right away he was someone special. We hugged at the end of our movie date, and agreed to see each other again. And again. And again!

And today is the 54-month anniversary of that movie date.

Thank you, God, for this wonderful love!

And thank you, Rich, for being such an amazing part of my life!

Jeri