Is it REAL LOVE ?(Acid Test)

[EdLova]

for those of you who have met that special someone in AA or outside of AA who you "KNOW IS GOD'S WILL" maybe you might wanna try this:

an excerpt from "The Way to Love" by Anthony DeMello


If you're in a relationship I encourage you to say this to that person youre involved with and maybe ask them to see if they are willing to say it back to you:

Think of someone's love you desire..Do you want to be important to this person? To be special and make a difference to his or her life? Do you want this person to care for you and to be concerned about you in a special way? Then if you do, open your eyes and see that you are FOOLISHLY inviting others to reserve you for themselves, to restrict your freedom for their benefit, to control your behavior, your growth and devlopment so that it will suit their interest

...it's as if the other person said to you, "if you wanna be special to me, you must meet MY conditions. Because the moment you cease to live up to my expectations, you will cease to be special."

so pause now and ask yourself: Is it worth paying so much for so little?

imagine you say this to the special person whose love you want:

"LEAVE ME FREE TO BE MYSELF, TO THINK MY THOUGHTS TO INDULGE MY TASTE, TO FOLLOW MY INCLINATION, TO BEHAVE IN WAYS THAT I DECIDE ARE TO MY LIKING"

when you say this, you're gonna observe one of two things:

a) either your heart will resist these words and you will be exposed for the clinger and exploiter that you are

-so now might be time to exaimne the false belief that without this person, you cannot live or cannot be happy-

OR

b) your heart will pronounce the word sincerely, and in that very instant all control , manipulation, exploitation, possessiveness, jealousy will drop

"I leave you free to be yourself, to think your thoughts, to indulge your tastes,
to follow your inclinations, to behave in ways that you decide are to your liking"

.....THAT"S LOVE

[FriendofBill]

Anthony de Mello was a very deep, logical,spiritual thinker. His words are so true.
I suggest also his book "Awareness...the perils and opportunites of reality". Wonferful book for those "Attached" to people, places, things, alcohol etc.....

[BaBa OReiley]

you know ed, i think you just like to take the fun out of everything! LOL

wow dude, that was a very powerful post! thanks!!!!!!!!!!

hi friend of bill, guess what?
my names really bill! LOL

[FriendofBill]

BaBa Bill,

If you name is Bill, then you MUST be a friend of mine.
Please to meet ya

[Gabe]

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.
~Kahlil Gibran