Walk in love
“The soul that walks in love neither tires others, nor grows tired.” I can’t get that line from 16th century Spanish mystic John of the Cross out of my head.
To walk in love is to place my feet in the footsteps of Jesus. How did he live and relate to others? That’s how I want to live and relate to all my neighbors, friends and would-be foes alike. Here’s a short list of what it looks like to walk in love: be merciful, kind, patient, and forgiving, always turn the other cheek, take up a non-judgemental stance, be loving, and maybe most of all, remember we are prisoners of hope who place our trust in God.
So, if we walk in that way, says John of the Cross, we will not “tire others.” What does that mean? It’s pretty simple. Sometimes my behavior, attitude, and general disposition tires or wears the people around me out. I can hear my father sighing deeply, then dropping his head and saying in a soft, sad voice, “You boys are wearing me out,” as he looked at the enormous hole we dug in the middle of the backyard while he was at work.
When I am walking the path of selfishness acting on self-interest alone, I tend to “tire others” out. When I walk the path of love I am salt and light and refreshment for others.
In the second half of his line John of the Cross indicates that the soul that walks in love does not “grow tired.” People who walk in love assume an open stance of acceptance to the grace of God which is always on offer to us in infinite supply. Therefore, we don’t wear people out by trying to get our happiness needs met in inappropriate ways. Recipients of God’s grace don’t “tire” because we’re getting the sustaining love we need from God. It’s always on offer, we just have to open our arms to receive it. That’s why my favorite prayer these days is, “I trust you God. Amen.” As I say that prayer I imagine the doors of my heart being thrown open and God’s guiding, nourishing, saving love and grace rushing in to both fill and enlarge my heart.
When I wander off the path of love I find I am driven by fear and am far from present to whatever and whoever is right in front of me. Instead I revisit old wounds and resentments and worry about the future. I tire out easily and then have trouble sleeping.
Mercifully, Jesus calls me back to the path. I recognize his voice because I am, afterall, one of his beloved sheep. I come when he calls and together we walk in love and I do not grow tired.
“The soul that walks in love neither tires others, nor grows tired.”