Love: The Essence of God's Plan

Love and the Alphabet of Virtues

In the alphabet of virtues, this is the one I most looked forward to writing: Love. What a gift we have been given. For it is in the very act of loving that the gift of giving is as powerful as the gift of receiving. I know of no greater virtue, representative of God’s plan itself. It is the calling that love places upon a soul, waiting for its passionate embrace.

Here, let us take a moment to reflect upon this virtue: its glory, its creative capacity, and its calling upon the soul. It finds its mark upon God’s greater plan for us and our salvation.

The Greatest Commandment

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?"
He said in reply, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."
He replied to him, "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live."
~Luke 10: 25-28

A Libation of Love

Have you ever been drunk with love? You know, that intoxicating feeling that sweeps over you, keeping you up into the wee hours of the morning. It keeps you engaged in dreaming, communicating, and planning. That feeling of truly living life to its fullest extent is a wonderful feeling.

For those of us who have love, the greatest gift is present. For those who have not, that absence offers a key to understanding the consequence of all that we stand to lose. While this virtue itself represents the greatest gift I believe spirit offers us, as with any light of the grandest type. A shadow is cast in the wake of its light.

Loving Reflections

Here I invite you to a brief exercise. Grasp an image of someone you love. Look lovingly upon it, allowing the picture to fully settle into your heart. Do this for around 30 seconds to a minute. Now, close your eyes. Do you see the image still present? Does it bring up memories, reflections of days long past?

Love imprints itself upon us in images held. This is the core of our working memory. That which is not emotionally weighted does not hold weight in the present. However, that which we have assigned emotional viability will have a lasting effect on our soul. This is especially true when love is concerned. For it is love that allows the soul its place in the greater calling, the moments God has in store for us to take part in.

Can you imagine a world without love? I cannot. Yet, maybe that is what is so sorely missing these days. Maybe, if we focus for just one minute on that image we have embraced, we can extend that heartfelt presence to the person behind that image. We can express the feelings they have given you. For it is in these very acts of heartfelt extension that we can truly change the world. This is because love is forgiving—two words, and one.

May your journey towards love find its destination.

Nurturing Grace: The Divine Equation of Love & Preventing Burnout – A Sacred Journey: Where Myths Unfold and Potential Awakens

Are you a chronic caregiver, natural helper, or over-giver who feels like you’re running on empty? In this episode of A Sacred Journey, we dive into Dr. Thomas Maples’ insightful essay, Nurturing Grace: The Divine Equation of Love.We explore the "divine equation" from the Gospel of Mark—loving your neighbor as yourself—and why internal self-nurturance is a non-negotiable prerequisite for sustainable service. Learn why you "can't pour wine from a broken bottle," how to integrate the "holy no" to protect your boundaries, and practical ways to practice silence through Lectio Divinaand the intentional pause.

[…] to the Calling of the Inner […]

Dr. Thomas Maples

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