What is the unifying force in my life?  If I could only pick one thing, what would I say is the most important thing to me?  What if I could set aside all the shoulds of life regarding time, money, education, duty, promises, or obligations (or anything else I can think of)?  What is the one thing that I would most like to do with my life?  I asked myself these questions about a year ago, after I got done with a daily meditation/prayer.  It got me thinking.  Questions like these help me with perspective and realizing priorities.  What if today was my last day on this earth, would I change how I live?  Do you ever ask yourself questions like these?  I like asking myself questions that encourage reflection.  I really have a burning desire to make the world a better place; changing myself is where I need to begin. 

I am incredibly fortunate to have many interests and lots of energy.  I juggle them, in an attempt to keep improving. I see infinite possibilities of direction and development.  It's almost too overwhelming at times.  I needed a unifying thread for my own sanity.  I think that's why I ask myself those kind of questions. Let me see if I can insert a silly self-portrait here to illustrate this point about juggling a variety of interests. 
                                                     
The unifying force in my life is growing in love.  I am not referring to romantic love; I mean agape, divine love.  That's it.  "Love, love, love, all you need is love"; isn't that how the song goes?  Nothing has ever been more important to me than that.  The importance of this love that is written about in all the ancient wisdom systems resonates deep within my soul: it rings true for me. 

I have had a wide variety of experiences, but I am very much aware I know so little of what there is to be known.  I have struggled with emotional problems most of my life, most apparent in my closest personal relationships.  I don't think I'm alone in that.  My love for "God" and my love of work have been my saving graces.  Throwing myself into work probably kept me out of alot of trouble.  Most of my struggles have been in private.  I have been to some seriously dark places inside myself, but that love that holds the universe together would always call me back, and guide me to do what I needed to do to heal those terribly painful places inside myself.  Love.  A deep desire to heal and help everyone I possibly could along the way has been the strongest, single most driving force in my life.  I've known about this love since I was very young, but not until my mid-twenties,about thirty  years ago, did I consciously set foot on this "path", adventure.  I study.  I apply what I learn.  I keep what moves me in the direction of agape, the love of "God", Love of the highest order.  I discard what doesn't cause me to grow in love, wisdom, consciousness, healing wholeness and sacred unity.  I can honestly say that light that I used to see at the end of the tunnel is something I reach out and touch daily now.  

Yesterday and today I listened to a 4 CD set by James C. Hunter called The Servant Leadership.  His teachings spoke to me.  He quoted Aristotle saying, "Character is habit."  He went on to say "Your thoughts become your actions.  Your actions become your habits.  Your habits become your character.  Your character becomes your destiny."  I don't know if those were Aristotle's words or his.  Either way, it's a simple, powerful statement about what power we have if we choose to acknowledge it.  Peace.