The Power of Love

LOUISE K. GAINES

Probably in all the world there is no word whose meaning is more powerful than the word "love." In human experience love runs up and down the gamut of emotion from lofty desires to depths of sheer animality. This word, then, needs our most careful consideration.

Human life is full of accounts of love expressed which transcend the level of mere human emotion. A mother's love for her offspring, the love of animals for their young, the love of one who gives his life for a comrade on the battlefield —all these are glowing examples of the love which nourishes human life.

As the quality of love is purified and raised above the mere human aspect through an understanding of God as divine Love, the source of all real love, we find it to be powerful to a degree beyond belief. As love's power reaches out from one individual to a couple, to a family, to a city, to a nation, it will by its own momentum reach worldwide proportions. It is up to each one of us to do his part, and the sooner one assumes this responsibility, the nearer will be the day of world peace.

The Bible is rich in references which bespeak the power of love. In John we find Jesus' familiar words, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (15:13). Few of us may be called upon to do this literally, but daily we may find the opportunity to lay down personal wishes and desires, and this yielding of self brings with it "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding" (Phil. 4:7).

Paul wrote in his Epistle to the Romans, "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law" (13:10). Our need to express love is not just a privilege—it is a demand. It is indeed the fulfilling of the law.

In Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy writes, "Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way" (p. 454). When we turn to divine Love, as did the publican of Jesus' parable when he prayed, we may expect and receive the inspiration, the light, the direction, which will lead the way to a happier, fuller, more useful and satisfactory life right here, in spite of what may seem to be troublous times in a world in ferment.

Some years ago when I was a new student of Christian Science I had an experience which proved in a small way the power of love. A beautiful, very productive fig tree in our garden was almost a total loss because of the influx of mockingbirds as soon as the fruit ripened. I was furious at these destructive visitors to our garden and used even invention I could contrive to thwart their efforts, but to no avail.

One day as I was vehemently scolding the birds I was literally stopped in my tracks by a most powerful thought. Almost as if someone were speaking to me, these words rang in my ears: "Surely there are enough figs for all. This really isn't your tree; it is God's, and He provides for all of His creatures."

At that instant my annoyance melted away, and I spoke aloud: "Come on, you hungry birds. Enjoy the figs, but please eat the whole fig and don't peck at dozens of them."

Laughing, I went into the house and thought no more of the episode. The next morning I went out to pick a few figs for breakfast. To my amazement I found that not more than a half dozen figs had been touched, and they had been almost completely eaten by the birds, and an abundance of untouched ripe figs were left —more than enough to fill our needs.

In the chapter entitled "Creation" in Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy says, "Universal Love is the divine way in Christian Science" (p. 266). How important it is, then, for each one of us as Christian Scientists to do his part in following this divine way hourly and daily in every word and deed so that universal Love may usher in the millennium!

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