The poet, Edwin Markham, penned a definition of love as:
He drew a circle to shut me out,
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout –
But Love and I had Wit to win.
We drew a circle that took him in.
It’s no coincidence that the A Search for God, Book I, chapter on “Love” comes at the end of the book—the 12th and final chapter. A Search for God Study Group members had to work up to demonstrating love after learning cooperation, setting spiritual Ideals, practicing fellowship, patience, and unity with all.
In the chapter on Love, we are told:
For, he that would expect mercy must show mercy to his fellow man; he that would find peace and harmony in the love of God must show love, peace, harmony with his fellow man [and woman].
-- Edgar Cayce reading 262-43
Have you ever tried to “be merciful” to everyone in your world? Many Study Groups have tackled this concept as a weekly discipline and reported back on their progress at the next meeting. What did they learn? We found that unless we could show brotherly love to people of all stripes—extend mercy to people we might not “like” as much as some others—we could not experience true fellowship with God.
When a member of Mr. Cayce’s original Study Group asked how she might “…better apply personally the affirmation of this lesson,” (“…make us more aware of ‘God is love,’”) she was told (65 years ahead of the Nike ad campaign):
Just do it!
-- Edgar Cayce reading 262-41
As we cultivate an awareness of God in other people and in every situation, our acceptance of life begins to expand. We begin to realize that we don’t always have to be right about everything. Love develops in us an active patience that shows just what our development is: whether we are ready to bear with others and overlook their shortcomings, or are primitive in thinking that our way is the only way to truth. We are admonished to “trust” (love) when “slights and slurs” enter in. True love prevents us from feeling “slighted” or taking something personally because we are tired or feel misunderstood or unappreciated.
Life is Creative Force in action and is the expression of love. Love, divine love, is universal. As Cayce says, it is found in the smile of a baby, the beauty of a song, and the peace that encompasses nature. Love is manifested in the performance of duty, when there is no thought of personal gain. Three members of our study group are all caring for an elderly parent or special needs child at great personal challenge and cost, but gladly “walk the walk” out of love.
Pure, undefiled love is so powerful that men and women lay down their lives for others, forgetting themselves. We’ve heard stories of how someone dived off a bridge to save a drowning person—dragged children out of a burning building, or leapt in front of a grenade or bullet to save a friend. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
Edgar Cayce did this himself each time he gave a reading for others. During the war years [World War II] when many frantic parents contacted him searching for the whereabouts and safety of their sons in service, Mr. Cayce gave up to 10 readings a day (even though his own health readings advised him to give no more than two readings per day.)
The “Search for God” material says that in the beginning, Love looked upon the earth and saw that it was good and blessed it. Love (God) is that dynamic force that brings into manifestation all things. It is the healing force, the cleansing force, and the force that blesses everything we touch. With our hearts filled with love, we will see only goodness and purity in everybody and in everything, and not impute any lesser emotions or motives to others.
As Love is God, it is therefore our abundant supply. Do we lack? Do we love? Do we allow conditions to keep us from the realization of the presence of God? If so, how can we expect the flow of abundance, when we are keeping the channel blocked by our thoughts and attitudes? What if we make a conscious decision to dwell on our blessings, instead of our hardships? Try this exercise: Tell yourself first thing each morning that whatever happens to you today is God’s Will for you. (I have a sign taped on my car’s dashboard that reads, “Take all that happens as My Planning.”) Then, when something or someone “interrupts” you, love the interruption. Consider it heaven-sent. Since God is the sender, it is our job to welcome whoever or whatever is in front of us. Only when our hearts are full of love—for people, for conditions, for God—can we fully realize this.
Love allows no place for hate and recognizes no evil, but sees all things working together for good. The power of love is unlimited. We alone set metes and bounds. We can choose to use our love constructively or selfishly. We may uplift our fellow humans or crush ideals, instigate revolts, or wreck civilization. It all depends on whether we are in love with ourselves or are willing to lay down our lives for others.
The Father’s love is the golden thread that is woven throughout the Scriptures. To fulfill the law of love is more than simply to love those who love us. The readings indicate that until we can love others, we have not even begun to develop. And development is exactly what Mr. Cayce’s work is all about. The “Search for God” material was given to help people put into practice spiritual laws, that if used, will help us become people of a higher vibration, people truly changed from within. That change, then, is the gift of love each of us gives to the world.
This blog is Lesson 12 of our 2018 Enlightenment Series. Members can access all of the available material, which also includes an online video and downloadable monthly practice with homework, in the member-only section of our website at EdgarCayce.org/members. Not a member? Join now.
