The goal of the entire spiritual journey is union in love. And love is not achieved by any performance principle, but it is something we “fall into” when we are not in full control. -- Fr Richard Rohr, "Daily Meditation," March 8, 2020
I believe it was Eknath Easwaran who wrote, In a situation where there is a lot of friction, where people differ from you and aren't shy about letting you know it, don't run away...move closer to them.
I have found that to be the best advice. Ah, only imagine my surprise when I realized it is not necessarily to move closer to them physically. For all parties to "win," we move closer spiritually...physically then can naturally follow.
To move closer spiritually requires no outer movement, as one would reasonably think. No, we need not even be near the other. We start to move closer in our head by getting over ourself...ah, love aborning. This opens us to its movement down to our heart (often accompanied by prayers for our thoughts about the other), and then, thank you, Father, love makes its home in our Soul.
This takes time, of course, but mainly it takes dedication to the first part, getting over our own self. Which stems our egoic thoughts, those that will be with us till three days after we're dead. We find our ceaseless prayer to be for our thoughts about the other...thank you for keeping 'em clean, Father.
We will have movements of surcease, each being the promise that keeps us on track. Those moments are the promise of paradise, i.e., pure love. Not for anything, not for anybody, just love. They are of God, and clarify our tormentor as our angel, plain and simple. And there it is, the pearl of great price.
Thank you.
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