Love as Letting Go

by Rev Donna Baranyay, CT

February is the “month of love”. Love, I have found can present itself in many, varied forms, and avenues. From a spiritual perspective, love is more than a feeling or an emotion. It is an Energy, another word for the Divine. From a physical perspective, love is a feeling, an emotion, that we express with those whom we care about. It can be expressed as physical touch, verbally through words, and expressed through giving of gifts. Love is something we give ourselves too. It’s not just expressed to someone else. It is also expressed towards our companion animals or “pets” as well as nature. Many people talk to their plants while watering them or in other instances. According to the internet, love can also help us discover meaning and purpose in our lives. I would include this definition under the umbrella of spiritual love.

I believe that Love can definitely help assist us in discovering meaning and purpose in our lives. I also believe that Love can heal…It can help us heal from the inside out. Healing can manifest in many forms…including as letting go. Sometimes I have found it is the act of letting go that has assisted me in healing. Letting go of an idea, a relationship, an expectation, a feeling. All have been powerful and life transforming experiences for me. Not easy most of the time, but when the courage was there and I answered the call to let go I felt and experienced life transformations. I found an inner resilience that I didn’t know that I had and I even discovered more self-confidence from within. I answered the call. It felt scary and exhilarating at the same time!

“Some people believe holding on and hanging in there are signs of great strength. However, there are times when it takes much more strength to know when to let go and then do it.” -Ann Landers

I was at an airport recently. While I was there, I took some time to observe the interactions going on all around me. Some people where saying goodbye to their loved ones while others were filled with joy greeting loved ones who had just arrived. Airports are full of hellos and goodbyes. Airports are also full of a wide range of emotions and energy. Standing there observing all that was going on around me, I felt an invitation to be open to Spirit. What I felt was Love, a deep sense of Love. Some people were letting go of their loved ones from being with them physically so that person could go off and reach a dream or pursue a goal, or for a myriad of other reasons. What does it mean for us to let something go spiritually or emotionally in order to pursue something that is calling us? What if we looked at it like this – Instead of what am I letting go of? Ask yourself what new and exciting experience am I gaining? A new perspective, a new way of life, a healthy mind, body, and spirit? Embrace the joy rather than lament the sadness of letting something go, of releasing it. Loving yourself and living from a grounded in Spirit place often times includes an invitation to let something else go. This is Love in expression. This is the Divine having It’s way within, through, and as you. May we experience Love in all of its forms this month and every day. I wish you a journey filled with Love-filled moments. I will end with this quote “It should be considered right to live and enjoy living. To be well, happy, and to express freedom, is to be in accord with Divine Law and Wisdom.” - Ernest Holmes, The Science of Mind