Posted by Roberta Grimes • September 01, 2014 • 4 Comments
Afterlife Research, Human Nature, The Teachings of Jesus, Understanding Reality
One of the things that is most certain about the afterlife evidence is what it tells us is the reason why we even are alive at all. Why are we here? What is human life for? The very fact that there exists such an exquisite and gloriously planned afterlife for each of the seven billion struggling on earth, and the uncounted billions who already are there, strongly suggests that all our lives on earth must have a pretty spectacular purpose.
An overlong but nevertheless enjoyable article in The New York Times of July 18 explores the fact that all the things that most of us strive for cannot make us happy, but instead, from wealth and power and fame right through every pleasure of the flesh, they too often disappoint us. The very title of the article – “Love People, Not Pleasure” – gives away the point toward which it labors: having stuff only tends to make us more miserable, while the true source of happiness is loving others. Or in the pithier words of the eighteenth-century poet, William Blake: “I sought my soul, But my soul I could not see. I sought my God, But my God eluded me. I sought my brother, And I found all three.”
Over and over, the dead who were communicating with us a century ago and the upper-level beings communicating with us now have said that the meaning and purpose of our lives is learning to love one another more perfectly. That’s it! That’s all.
Of course, Jesus told us all of this two thousand years ago. He reduced the Old Testament’s Ten Commandments to just one commandment: that we learn how to love.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven…. Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43-48)
To love perfectly is to be perfect. The whole meaning and purpose of every life on earth is to learn to love one another as we love ourselves, which is something else that Jesus said to us: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). (Note: Jesus didn’t say “Love your neighbor as if he were yourself,” but he pointedly just said “as yourself” – because, as 
evidence shows, your neighbor is yourself.)
To be perfect, we must learn to love everyone on earth more perfectly! We must love every curmudgeon, every mass-murderer, and even our far-beyond-despicable ex-spouse. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.” (Luke 6:32) The love that we were born to learn is perfect love from our deepest heart for everyone, and even for the most unlovable.As A Course in Miracles tells us, everything that happens in our lives is “either love or a call for love.” So no matter the question, love is always the answer.
The dead tell us that we are here to learn how to love, our dominant religion echoes that wisdom, and experience tells us that love is the root of true happiness. That makes it simple, doesn’t it?
Nice pic of Jesus, Roberta! Are you sure he was white? 🙂
Of course I’m sure! And also brown, and black, and beige, and golden, and creamish, and….
Loved the article. I have lost most of my loved ones and they were gracious enough to come back and nudge me forward. I kept looking into the grave and wanted to be with them…it was nor is it now my time. When I speak with people and they complain about the world and people, I tell them that God is not really happy with us. We don’t love and respect each other as we should. So much division because of color and religion. So sad! My spirit bears witness to people, not the color of their skin or what they believe in. Your article is so true and I see a lot…but most people do not know how to love themselves therefore they do not know how to love others. I have learned it is so important to forgive oneself for mistakes we have made in our past..that allows us to move forward in life and truly embrace life. When our love one visit..they will surely give is the big “you got it”(:
And I love your response, dear Susan! “Most people do not know how to love themselves therefore they do not know how to love others” strikes me as right-on. Learning self-forgiveness is a big part of learning how to love purely, since we tend to project onto others whatever we are seeing in ourselves! Thank you for your presence here, and for your wonderful comment!!