What Is This Thing Called Love?

Many years ago, Joseph defined love this way:

“The choice to see the divinity in all beings.”

At the time that didn’t make much sense to me. In fact, it made almost no sense. But over the years I’ve come to see the wisdom and the power in that definition.

The very word, “love,” often conjures up so many confusing and conflicting images and feelings in our human minds. Especially in the seemingly chaotic and trying times our planet is experiencing today.

So I asked Joseph to revisit that earlier definition of love from so long ago.

Chief Joseph

We have often used the term “All That Is” to mean what many of you call God -- Goddess -- Great Spirit -- etc. We prefer the term “All That Is” because it really says it all.

Whatever word or image you have of that divine creative energy, it doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that energy created every being, the entire universe, and every minute particle of that universe.

And that divine creative energy is part of -- is the essence of -- everything that exists, has ever existed, or will ever exist. In other words, all that is.

God is all that is. It’s that simple.

God is you. God is your beloved family. God is your friends. God is your enemies. God is your pets. God is the animals of the world. God is the plants growing in your garden. God is the food you eat. God is the clothes you wear. God is the country you live in. God is the countries you are at war with. God is the mountains, the hills, the valleys, the deserts, the oceans. God is the sun, the moon, the stars.

God is all that is and All That Is.

If you acknowledge the truth of what we’ve just said, then you must indeed have reverence for all life -- yours and those of other human beings. And all other animal beings. All plant beings. And your Mother Earth and the planets, stars, galaxies surrounding your beloved Mother. Even so-called “inanimate” objects have their roots and their sacred beginnings in All That Is, in God.

If you see all creation in this way, friends, you will respect and revere all life. When you acknowledge the value, the sacredness of all life, of all beings, you have truly touched the hand of God.

At that moment of touching the hand of God you will know in your heart, in the very depths of your being and your soul, what it is to truly love.

Love is all there is. Love is all that is. Love is All That Is.

When you see that bright golden divine spark in all life, when you choose to see the divinity in all beings, you will have come home.

That, friends, is the key to all you long for -- peace on earth, peace in your hearts. The peace that surpasses all human understanding.

Copyright © 2005 by Great Western Publishing