“A bell is no bell till you ring it. A song is no song till you sing it. And love in your heart wasn’t put there to stay: love isn’t love till you give it away.”
–The Sound of Music
I recently began reading a book, Anan Cara by John O’Donohue. I’d like to share with you a part of the book.
Image by Kklass01
The author talks about how there are many ruins in Ireland, but that they are not empty. He shared a story about one of his friends, a priest, who wanted to build a parking lot outside of his church. There was a ruin nearby and his friend went to speak to the landowner to ask him for stones to build the foundation. The landowner asked, “What would the souls of my ancestors do then?” The author writes that the implication was that the “life and passion of a person leave an imprint on the ether of a place.” He then concludes:
“Love does not remain within the heart, it flows out to build secret tabernacles in a landscape.”
When I read this, it made me pause and reflect on my heart and love. What secret tabernacles am I constructing through my passion and my work? What lives am I touching and what legacy am I leaving? What impressions am I leaving on those closest to me? What energy am I leaving in places that I worship, visit, work, or live in? These are important questions to consider.
At this point in my life, I hope that I am constructing secret tabernacles that lead others to feel self-compassion, self-acceptance, and a real, genuine connection with others. These are the three things I believe are key in life. When we strive toward them, we are better able to be compassionate toward others, to be accepting of others, and we are better able to truly connect to others.
For me, the greatest tabernacle is the relationships I have with others. What is yours? What is it built out of?
Share your thoughts
No Thoughts About What does your love create?