Do We Really Love?

FEROL AUSTEN

Undisguised affection is one of the world's great yearnings, for there are very few people who feel they no longer need to relate to others. Countless numbers hunger for a friendly look, a sympathetic word, an arm around the shoulder—literally, as well as figuratively. When we know we are loved, we can do almost anything, face just about anything. Human affection that is spiritually based is derived from divine Love, and the world cannot do without it.

How many of us can say to ourselves with conviction, "God loves me; so I feel whole and complete and fulfilled"? One who is climbing the first rungs of the ladder of spiritual understanding may not have got that far yet. While learning to grow spiritually, the individual wants and needs concrete evidence of God's love in his everyday life—sincere love that one can warm to, respond to, be embraced by.

True religion, active Christianity, is not merely a cold, cerebral exercise. Unless we are bringing out in our own lives and the lives of others some of the intelligence, goodness, and love of God, we have not really discovered our own true, spiritual selfhood. We don't live in a floating vacuum of some kind of vague perfection and holiness. Man, in truth, is the likeness of God. This has been said millions of times, but what does it mean? It means that man reflects his Maker—divine Truth, Love—in everything. It means that we have to perceive this identity of ours and actively and consciously make it evident in our human, everyday contact with others.

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