Evidence of Love: A Matter of Focus

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the single candle will not be shortened.”

– The Teaching of Buddha

We are inundated with chaotic messages daily that seem to prove the absence of love. You have seen them on social media, the news, in riots, racism, and the current state of our nation and world. Families and friends have fallen out of favor due to moral and ideological differences and this can hurt deeply. Additionally, when we have been hurt before, it can be natural to build walls of protection around the heart. These protective walls serve a purpose - they're a natural response to pain. However, they come with a significant cost. When these walls are in place, not only will it be hard to have healthy, connected relationships, it can obstruct otherwise clear evidence of the love around us.

 I believe looking for evidence of love in the world can help us be gentler and more compassionate with ourselves and others. The truth is, however, love is all around us at every moment, if we choose to notice.  It is in the gentle breeze, the neighbor racing his daughter on bikes, the grocery clerk’s smile, the butterfly flitting by on its way to the next flower, birdsong, the young boy holding the door for the person behind him.  I make it a habit to look for love’s presence, and each day I find more and more evidence that this is true. Today, on my walk, I found this heart shaped demonstration of love in a desert wash. Clearly, I am not the only person who is thinking along these lines as someone took the time to create evidence of love.

Practicing mindfulness is one way to feel more peaceful. There is no substitution for human connection in the form of presence. Each time you make eye contact, lend a helping hand or a smile, or simply notice the evidence of love around you, you light another candle. Being present with who or what is near us, inspires awareness and opens us to a world of otherwise missed connections. Each time you observe and appreciate love, each time you connect with someone from your heart, and each time you are present with what is, you are lighting other candles. Like a pebble dropped in water, love, presence and connection ripple out while creating a well of self-love and compassion within.