My Everyday Mystic by Jan Puta: blog for the soul

“Love does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered.” (1 Corinthians 13)

Earlier in the year, Eckhart Tolle was featured on Oprah. She chose his book, “A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose” for her book club. She also hosted a series of Monday night web shows discussing the book with Eckhart Tolle, answering questions, and talking to viewers from around the world.

Whether or not you are into Eckhart Tolle, his writings about the ego and the pain body, many of us still know what reactivity is all about!

This is perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of love – not to talk back, not to explain ourselves, not to defend our opinion, not to get riled up when confronted or irritated or annoyed.

I’m not talking about defending ourselves in an abusive relationship or where we need to speak the truth for justice to prevail.

The reactivity I’m talking about is:

• the surge of angry words we spew out when someone cuts in front of us in traffic or in the buffet line,
• that irate feeling boiling up in us when someone doesn’t take their turn at the four-way intersection or in the check-out line,
• the ranting and raging we get into when we don’t get our way over something planned or expected,
• the mood we carry around with us for the rest of the day when we are blaming everyone and everything for the mess in our lives.

That’s reactivity. That’s being provoked. And that’s not love.

Love is tender, taking care of itself and reaching out to others. Love sees the big picture and knows that all is well, no matter what’s going on in the details. That’s why love can be gentle and non-reactive no matter how tough the going gets.

Love walks in forgiveness, knowing we are human and can make mistakes – but remembering we are first and always soul, walking the journey back home.

What supports you, encourages you, inspires you on your journey? Drop a line in the response box below (or click on the comment link in Facebook) and share your thoughts about what it means to you to walk in love.

I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

Janice M. Puta
Author of Pathways: Tales for the Spiritual Seeker
Free Preview: Pathways: Tales for the Spiritual Seeker