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All About the Love Again (Long Version Reprinted from Newsletter)
By Cornelia Powell | February 6, 2009
This was my experience watching the festivities surrounding President Obama’s inauguration last week. I don’t put a lot of attention on politics — or television — but this day was a happening and not to be missed! I felt I was in the midst of a collective rite-of-passage…a passage immersed in love where everyone was included.
“Love that casts a widening pool of light,” continued Elizabeth Alexander, the poet chosen to read her original work for the inauguration. The love of that wide light she spoke of — bold, patient, courageous, abundant, kind, in service, inclusive, unconditional (the only way real love can be) — lit the world that day.
At the Neighborhood Inauguration Ball, Stevie Wonder debuted a new song for a soundtrack dedicated to the Obamas, “All About the Love Again.” And it didn’t sound corny as he sang, it sounded, well, like a cool place you’d want to hang out!
Of course, poets and minstrels musing about love is nothing new, but it sure felt like something big had shifted. The whole experience had me consider: What would a collective rite-of-passage focused on love be like for the world? So I decided to start with me! I looked up what other sages had to say on the subject of love.
Over 2000 years ago, before the birth of Jesus, the Roman poet Ovid said, “If you want to be loved, be lovable.” It’s not easy to be lovable if I’m judging and criticizing someone or when I’m not loving myself. If indeed “only love is real,” as writer Marianne Williamson declares, then perhaps it’s as simple as this: For my world to be more loving requires me to be more lovable.
Mother Teresa said, “If we really want to love, we must learn how to forgive.” She considered that forgiveness is about letting go of whatever has you close your heart to others… for whatever reason. Hmmm, I’ve got some work to do! Thank goodness that “love is kind and patient and not jealous,” to paraphrase First Corinthians.
In my unofficial love research, I reread the famous, simple prayer of the 12th century mystic, St. Francis of Assisi: “where there is hate, let me sow love.” Thinking back on the inauguration festivities, that’s what it looked like: people, even strangers, going around “sowing love” — giving real hugs, making heart connections, speaking authentically from an open heart. And it didn’t feel momentary, it felt like something strong, immediate, and everlasting would grow from it.
That’s the nature of a rite-of-passage… something changes from within, then radiates out from there. And it touches everyone, even those unawares.
“All you need is love,” my guys the Beatles sang out and they would be happy to know that it just might be possible now! Sure feels like it. Love, indeed, is the mightiest word. And just as Stevie sang: “sounds good to me”!
Love. Listen. Let go.
… with love from Cornelia
Topics: Empowering Girls, Inspiration, Relationship, Women's Notes |