Loyal to Love

Photo credit: Marcos Paulo Prado

“Loyalty is the pledge of truth to oneself and others.” ― Ada Velez-Boardley

Loyalty seems to me to be another of the lost or diminishing values in our modern culture. It’s a word we don’t hear often anymore, and one that is often met with skepticism. Like most worthwhile pursuits, practicing loyalty can be challenging. If loyalty is a pledge of truth, the question that follows is “but what is truth?” Disagreement in belief leads to distrust and a withdrawal of loyalty. Yet who amongst us can testify to know what truth is for all humanity?

When you are loyal, you love unconditionally. It doesn’t mean you condone all actions. It means you love anyways. It’s easy to love people who always act with integrity and kindness, but who amongst us can make such a claim? Loyalty means loving when it’s hard. It includes people who are flawed and downtrodden. Hurting people are the ones who need our love the most.

It is painful when people you love withdraw their loyalty and betray your trust in theirs. It is a devastating wound. I believe it as the root of much unwellness in the world. It penetrates our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual bodies. It is something all human beings have endured from others and inflicted themselves, so I know, dear reader, you understand.

Judgment feels uncomfortable, at times unbearable. Especially when it comes from people we believe to be a part of our inner circle of loyalty. When members of our tribe judge our mistakes, when they abandon us because of our errors, it hurts. Often, our reaction is to judge them back. But when we’re loyal to love, we let it go. We accept it when others refuse to engage or even abolish us from their lives. We let them go. But we don’t stop loving them—ever.

Healing can feel impossible as feeling human beings, but it is attainable on a spiritual level. Scripture instructs us to pray, to be patriotic, kind and honourable. To be committed and loyal to our families, communities and country. To focus on the good and be willing to look past mistakes. We are asked to love our enemies as we love ourselves.

My quest to learn how to love unconditionally led me to The Course in Miracles. It is not an easy read, and the going is slow, but well worth the effort. The course states that, “miracles awaken the awareness that spirit, not body, is the altar of truth.” We have to train our minds to let awareness of what is truth take hold in our souls. In love, truth, and faith, all pain can be healed.

It is a long walk to freedom, but I think it is rooted in forgiveness. I believe we need to replace all fear and doubt with love. If miracles are affirmations of trust, that all is well, I’m inviting those affirmations into my heart. Peace and healing come when we lean not on our own understanding, but trust in a higher power.

If I am deprived of nothing except by my own decisions, I can choose to decide otherwise. If what I project, extend and teach is my reality, to heal myself I must extend love to everyone and every living thing. Healing is an ability that I can learn and develop. If loyalty is the pledge of truth to oneself and others, I choose to be loyal to the truth that love is everything. The answer is so simple, and yet so difficult to do. I believe it’s worth the effort. What truth do you choose?

COMING UP…

Books & Projects:

·      All four of my books are available online at Amazon, Chapters-Indigo, and Barnes & Noble. You can also find them at select Chapters-Indigo and El Hombre de la Mancha bookstores.

·      I am pursuing representation from a traditional publisher for my fifth literary fiction, a psychological drama that explores the complexities of mental illness and trauma. Stay in touch by signing up for my blog or following me on social media to find out when it will be published.

Reviews & Interviews:

·      You can read, listen, or watch a large selection of reviews and interviews on my website.

Events:

·      There are no events currently scheduled in my calendar.

YouTube Channel:

·      Watch The Rogue Scorpion trailer.

·      Watch The Holding trailer.

WatchThe Healing trailer