I've been reflecting on the concept of "strength to love" and how it weaves together unity teachings with the wisdom of Martin Luther King Jr. It's a powerful idea—one that calls us to embrace both inner resilience and deep compassion.
In Unity, we talk about the 12 powers, and strength is one of them, residing in the lower back. This isn't just physical strength; it's an inner fortitude that allows us to stand firm in love, even when faced with adversity. Love, the power of the heart, isn't weak or passive. It's transformative, a force that balances tough-mindedness with tender-heartedness.
So how do we cultivate this strength to love in our daily lives? Here are 6 action steps:
1. Awaken Your Inner Resilience
Your true power doesn’t come from external force—it comes from within. Recognizing your spiritual strength helps you navigate challenges with grace instead of fear.
2. Invoke the Power of Love
Love lives in your heart space. When faced with difficult situations, choose love over anger or resentment. This doesn’t mean ignoring injustice; it means responding in a way that harmonizes and heals.
3. Balance Strength with Compassion
Being strong doesn’t mean being rigid. True strength is the ability to hold firm in your values while staying open-hearted. Tough-mindedness and tender-heartedness must go hand in hand.
4. Stand Up for Truth and Justice
Spiritual strength calls us to challenge injustice with courage. Speaking up for what is right isn’t always easy, but when grounded in love, it becomes an act of service to humanity.
5. Embrace Forgiveness as Strength
Forgiveness isn’t weakness—it’s power. It dissolves negativity and frees us from the burdens of resentment. This doesn’t mean condoning harm, but rather choosing not to let anger define our path.
6. Recognize Our Oneness
At the core of "strength to love" is the understanding that we are all connected. When we see humanity as one, our actions naturally shift toward uplifting others and co-creating a just world.
Integrating spiritual strength with love is a practice—one that requires daily intention. But when we commit to this path, we become forces for positive change, leading with both courage and compassion.
Let us affirm together: Divine strength anchors me. I am steady, resilient, and unwavering. Divine love flows through me. I am guided by wisdom and compassion.
In this practice, in this gathering, we choose love. And in choosing love, we choose strength.
Until the next bend in the road,
Acknowledgement
This reflection is based on my Sunday talk February 9, 2025. I would like to express gratitude to Martin Luther King Jr. and his book Strength to Love for inspiring these reflections on love and resilience. Additionally, Revealing Word by Charles Fillmore has provided valuable insights into spiritual strength, love, and understanding. Their wisdom continues to guide and uplift us on this journey.
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