“Responsibility implies needs that would not be met without you. Response is given and thus genuine. It is a natural act of giving and receiving as one. Responsibility is a demanded response, a necessary response, an obligation. Response happens from within. (The Treatises of A Course of Love: Treatise on the Art of Thought, 4.13)”
Affirmation: “I will respond to my significant others today.”
Reflections:
1 – Responsibility vs. Response
Here is the distinction made between having responsibility for another and simply giving a response, surely heartfelt, to him or her. This passage continues the theme of the last several postings, emphasizing how very important these concepts are to A Course of Love. We do not want to do things for others out of obligation; we want to do so with love, and this love is a response rather than a duty-bound responsibility.
2 – Giving and Receiving
Perhaps giving and receiving as one is such a commonplace part of our religious culture that we aren’t sure what it does mean. Giving and receiving as one mean that what we give, we receive in equal measure. The equality of giving and receiving will give us pause for thought. If we don’t give, we don’t receive. But I think that first we almost have to have received blessings from God that prepare our heart to respond by giving back–to Him, as well as our brothers and sisters.
3 – Demands
We do not want to do that which is demanded of us–at least, not often. We rebel, because negative emotions such as resentment enter the picture. But when our hearts are right with love, flowing over with love, we eagerly give a response from love. And we do not recognize any covert demand at all. We are too eager to give, in response to all that we have received. Love does not keep record books; we give much as we forgive, 70 times seven (from the New Testament). We respond with a willing spirit, and we respond because God has placed that will to do so in our hearts and minds. He has first given to us, and with this recognition, we know that we can give and give and give, and yet our own store is forever full. We do not give out of scarcity ever. We know no scarcity.
4 – Look to Inner Self
The “within” aspects of this passage emphasize once again that we are to look to our inner Self for the direction that we need. We look within and see no lack; we are therefore quite willing to respond to all needs that present themselves to us from those who are our brothers and sisters. We do not respond when to do so would be inappropriate. But the fact of appropriateness of response is broadened considerably when we open our thoughts to God and His way.
Prayer:
Dear Father/Mother,
I need to tell myself that You love my significant others even more than I do. I have said this to myself many times over the past number of years, and I know that it certainly is true. I can love only imperfectly, but Yours is perfect love. And You will care for my loved ones. I never need to think that I have to carry the burden all by myself.
Be with my loved ones today. May I respond to their needs, without feeling that I have a particular, insistent demand from them for responsibility for their needs. This is a great burden reliever, and I thank You for these words of Jesus.
Be with me today. I need You. Thank You.
Amen.
MIRACLES EACH DAY 