whatever the question, love is the answer.

I have a piece of art that reads, whatever the question, love is the answer. It really is hard to argue with those words, no matter what the situation. It certainly is one of those bold statements that almost instantly causes you to pause and go within. Take a moment now to contemplate the words, to really take them into your heart. Sit with it for a bit and allow them to settle. Notice what comes up. Notice what past hurts and pains arise, almost as if to say, Look at all this evidence I have of how I have been wronged and hurt. Surely love is not the answer here.

Love being the answer for anything, any question, can leave us with feelings of forgiveness and compassion. To be able to love, no matter what the question, while difficult at first, may be the most empowering and freeing thing you can do in any situation. In the face of hurt and anger, we are asked to forgive; in the face of misunderstanding and judgment, to bring compassion. The statement is boldly encouraging us to love ourselves. It’s asking us to choose love over fear in those delicate, fragile moments; the moments we are most scared, insecure and vulnerable. With love being the answer, it forces us to heal deeply, to look within, to expand our hearts, and to grow. It affects the collective consciousness in a positive, powerful way. If we are not responding from love, then we are responding from fear.

Fear is not going deep. Fear is staying on the surface where it appears safe. Fear is building walls around our hearts. Fear is constricting, not open and freeing. Another way of looking at the statement, whatever the question, love is the answer?, is to ask, what would love do? In difficult moments, pause and ask yourself that powerful question, what would love do? Love would forgive, not condemn. Love would praise, not put down. Love would create ease and comfort, not tension and angst. Love would bring peace, not arguing and battles. Love would bring compassion, not judgment. Love would look fear in the eye and say, It’s ok, I love you. And fear may reply, But *(&$%)*@&)!, and love would calmly repeat, It’s ok, I love you. And fear would say, Maybe you didn’t hear me right, @(*^$(^!. And love would continue to gaze softly and speak surely, It’s ok, I love you. Maybe it would take a few more times of this back and forth dialogue, but soon fear would soften and maybe release some tears of relief as it dissolved into all that is, love… pure, sweet love. It is through this type of transformation that we heal ourselves and our world.