Law: Love

The Apostle Paul knew something of the ultimate power of love. He wrote that you could be the world's greatest linguist -- you could be fluent in all the languages in the world, all the languages in the universe; you could master all the world's knowledge; you could have tremendous faith; you could even sacrifice all you have and all you are -- and know nothing, be nothing, gain nothing -- unless you loved others. This was central to Paul. Loving others is the power that moves through and informs all other actions of faith. The greatest commandment, Jesus said. The ultimate fulfillment of life as creatures in the image of the Divine. The New Testament gives us a pretty clear picture of how we should respond with our lives to the act of creation.

For the past 12 weeks, I have been espousing some of the ideas put forth by Greg Anderson in his new book, 22 Non-negotiable Laws of Wellness. As I have noted before, Greg Anderson is a cancer survivor, having published this new book some 11 years now after he was diagnosed with incurable inoperable metastatic lung cancer and given just 30 days to live. From his own experience and from research with doctors working with patients who have incurable illnesses, asking why do some people seem to handle themselves so well under the circumstances? why do some of these people seem so full of life? -- even though their days are numbered, how are some of these people seemingly unencumbered by pain during these last days of their lives? And how do some of these people seem to experience remission, or healing, of their so-called incurable disease? His research revealed some 22 observations that seemed to empower these death-facing people, and enabled them to experience a full life, often for the first time. And Greg Anderson formulated these observations as rules, or laws, that are guaranteed to enliven anyone who uses them. By observing these rules, these laws, anyone can feel better, think better, and live better than you ever thought possible -- the subtitle of his book.

Some of his ideas dovetailed with my studies of Scripture, and what I have learned through recent scientific studies on health and how we may live better, more abundantly as Jesus promised. The whole series of sermons is on audio tape and are available to anyone who wishes to listen to them. Some have already been transcribed, and maybe all of them will soon be available in print to share with whoever would like to read them.

My final sermon in this series is from the final chapter of his book which is devoted to what he calls The Law of Unconditional Loving. Except for the fact that Greg Anderson came upon his ideas from his work with terminally ill patients, this chapter could be a commentary on Paul's idea of the centrality of love. Greg Anderson is not a clergyman. He is a layman. I don't even know if he is Christian. He comes to his ideas as a practitioner and counselor and survivor of his own illness. His words and experiences are valuable for all of us. Today, I want to share as many of his own words from his final chapter as possible.

He begins: "We are each given but one life. Once and only once can we live it.... Each life contains no promises. Only possibilities. It is the privilege of each person to pursue his or her highest potential. This pursuit, undertaken with sincerity, is the true wellness journey. "Medicine tells us that health is the greatest goal [in life.].... Academicians tell us that the wise use of knowledge is the highest order of living.... Politicians say the quest for liberty is our supreme calling.... Social and political scientists tell us to see good works as the supreme accomplishment.... Capitalists say economic freedom is our highest calling... Religion tells us that the greatest thing to possess is faith.... [But they] all consistently miss the mark. If we base our lives on their precepts, we, too, will miss the mark of our highest calling. The greatest pursuit is not good health, unsurpassed wisdom, economic surplus, political freedom, or even faith that can move mountains. [Sounds like St. Paul, doesn't it?] Life's single highest and most rewarding pursuit...[is] unconditional, nonjudgmental loving. This is our [chief] aim. Living the message of unconditional loving is very possible [for each of us].... This greatest non-negotiable law can be our unfailing guiding light if we will ask but one question: What is the loving thing to do? Asked consistently and responded to with courage, this one question can transform a life, save a marriage, shape a child, reignite a career, even change the world. What is the loving thing to do?

He goes on: "All success, all well-being, all self-improvement has its basis in an unfathomable spirit that sustains us even when we may be least aware of it. That spirit is love. The law's question -- What is the loving thing to do? -- is another way of asking, What is God's way of doing this? In the answer to this question we find supernatural power for living.... [Supernatural power for living!!! Yes! Yes! Yes!]

He goes on: I have "observed that to the degree to which we align ourselves with the principles found in the Laws of Wellness, God's potential will then be released within and through us, enabling us to come closer to our Divine Design.... [And] the highest expression of [our] divine designs of applied love found in loving relationships between people...[a] love rooted in a decision to serve. It is a dynamic state of consciousness, a giving, creative flow, and a harmony. It's an acceptance of the human condition as perfectly imperfect. And it is a choice to love without regard to any conditions; no 'ifs' are allowed in this, the greatest of the laws.

He writes: "I have seen cancer respond to the decision to love, and have personally experienced such a response as well. After a sincere and thorough effort at forgiveness, I made a decision to love, as best I could, without any condition. Suddenly the cancer and a thirty-days-to-live prognosis appeared in a totally different light. My decision to practice the Law of Unconditional Loving meant that I could love people who only weeks before had seemed unlovable, even pathetic. My aim was not to reduce my suffering or postpone my imminent death. Rather, it was to live life now, to make the most of the moment. Only unconditional loving could fulfill those objectives..... Despite the physical pain, despite my deep fears, despite the fact that my spiritual foundations had crumbled, I now came to understand that it was my sole job to love. In that discovery were the seeds of wellness on the highest level I had ever known. [The greatest of these is love!] When I became completely willing to allow God's love to pour through me, my life changed. I figured that as long as I was breathing, I was here to be a channel for God's love. [As long as I was breathing, I was here to be a channel for God's love!] God works through people. I was a person. God could work through me! It was in this very decision that I discovered the basis for massive positive change. I've come to believe there is nothing in this world as important as unconditional loving. To allow the gradual and ever-increasing release of that love is my most important task. No higher call exists. No greater satisfaction awaits.

He goes on to tell us: "I practice what I call a "Daily Act of Loving". At least once each day, typically just before lunch, I make it a discipline to reach out in unconditional love to another person. The value and results of this practice have changed my life. That one simple decision to act with unconditional love affects every decision, every relationship. It greatly improves the quality and the effectiveness of my entire day, including the restfulness of my sleep. I believe my Daily Act of Loving gives me the strength to handle the difficult challenges of life. And I comment to you the simple practice of extending unconditional love to another person at least once a day, every day, for the rest of your life. You'll heal your world in delightful and surprising ways.

Greg Anderson warns that love's power can be trivialized. He notes that a popular notion for centuries has been "Love heals." Folks seeking a cure for whatever ails them, are disappointed when they do not get well, in the sense of a clinical cure. He says this "misses the point entirely. It damages the individual and it relegates unconditional loving to a technique, a modality in health and healing." He emphasizes, "Love is much more than a prescription. There is no formula that universally links spiritual perfection and clinical cures. Those who make such claims are misguided. Rather, [he notes] love transforms suffering -- a crucial distinction. That transformation may include a clinical cure; it may not. Cure is not the standard for judging. For even the process of death is transformed by unconditional loving. We can leave the world filled with joyful memories, and example of how to love. That's healing of the highest order. And death cannot be counted, then, as failure."

And he continues, "Seeing life through the lens of unconditional loving frees us from the constraints of the 'ordinary'. No longer are we locked into using outdated, outmoded, toxic, and questionably effective solutions to problems. The automatic response of attack-and-defend can be dropped. And in its place, a decision to be channel for unconditional goodwill and love can give us new and effective resolution. A Daily Act of Loving starts this whole miracle. Clearly, the ordinary thinking of traditional solutions, be it medical thinking, political thinking, or religious thinking, is no longer expansive enough to embrace solutions to the problems of this world. The Law of Unconditional Loving holds the best, the only, answer. [This man's preaching Jesus!] The Law of Unconditional Loving is actually spirituality in motion.... We can demonstrate and accept for ourselves the idea that the extension of love to another person can change two lives: the life that receives the love and the life that does the loving. What does this tell us? What instruction does this give us? How then do we live our lives? [Sounds like questions I ask, doesn't it?] At a minimum, [he continues] it suggests that to live unconsciously, to live unaware of how we are thinking, [how we are] feeling, [how we are] loving,... is a threat to our health and greater well-being. Learning to live and love consciously, developing the skills of awareness and insight, releases a person from having to feel victimized or controlled by life's challenges. Love is personal power. Loving transforms ordinary human consciousness into a force that changes our very world.

Before concluding this final chapter, Greg Anderson warns us: "Practicing the Law of Unconditional Loving is a full-time job. There are times when one may regret setting foot on this path, because this awareness does not necessarily make life easier. It does, however, make life better. The path of love is not an intellectual exercise. It is living and breathing, a constant challenge, ever changing, always requiring discipline and forethought. If we choose the path of love, we must always walk it. For if we don't, we no longer live life to our potential. No matter what the situation, no matter what the challenge, we are now called to love without condition. Our very essence, our soul itself, is now committed to the cause. The Law of Unconditional Loving is a tough taskmaster. Once we taste the fruits of unconditional loving, we cannot go backward, we cannot become 'unaware' ever again. We may make a detour or two. We may lose our way. But we cannot release awareness of the power of unconditional loving once it is our own. It becomes ours for all eternity.

The power of unconditional loving is ours for all eternity. Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn't selfish or quick tempered. It doesn't keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. Love never fails!

Caveat::
This sermon was prepared for oral delivery from the pulpit of Christ Presbyterian Church to the congregation gathered. For the most part, sources have not been cited. The thoughts and ideas put forth here are my own, but I have borrowed liberally from a wide variety of sources -- and, of course, they may or may not approve of the way I have adapted their material.