Fierce Love, A Response to What Surrounds Us -

Do you feel small and overwhelmed by the recent events happening in our world? Have you caught a glimpse of what is happening in the midst of all the hatred, violence and greed?

There is a response to what surrounds us. I call it ”Fierce Love.”

I see an outpouring of love. I watch as others stand up to turn the tide of hatred that has been lashed upon our planet. Many are replacing hate with love. They are consciously making choices for good. We all have choices to make. You can be light or darkness. Both are contagious.

Each of us matters and can make a difference. In the midst of horrendous violence, your actions of kindness may feel insignificant. Your acts of compassion may require great courage on your part. You might respond in ways that your peers don’t approve. You might even be accused of rocking the boat.

One act of Fierce Love can have a changing effect in a multitude of ways

You might think your choice for these actions won’t matter yet we know that every action has an effect. AND guess what? You may not even see the results. You may not get credit for your work. That credit may go to someone else. Are you still willing?

Fierce Love is a response that pours out of us. It is a call to do what may be contradictory to what “culture” tells us is “correct”. Today, I applaud people who are standing together to express love in many ways. People are making choices to be visible in caring for one another. I have developed eyes that see this because I too seek to live a life of Fierce Love. I seek to be a channel for love in response to hate. I am sickened by what is happening yet I know that hate is conquered by love. I am learning to wield my responses in various ways. Fierce love: a response, an outpouring and a covering… a spirit-filled way to move outwardly and to love one another courageously.

Polynesians in Hawaii spent days creating a tribute, the Lei of Aloha.

This hand woven lei contained 49 strands, one for each person who was murdered in Orlando. Each name was lovingly included; the creators of this tangible tribute worked day and night then traveled to present this gift, to honor those killed at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. No one paid them to do this. This was their outpouring response to a senseless act of hatred. This is the type of love that breaks the rules of “nice”. Across the world people honored those murdered in Orlando. With Fierce Love our planet came together to mourn and support.

Fierce love is not flashy. No one is wearing “Look at Me” t-shirts.

Fierce Love is poured out without ego. It is sometimes done in secret.

Fierce love does not operate out of a hierarchy of status. We are all earth walkers, people of a common planet. In this, there are no lines drawn between race, class or age. We help each other. We are all of one race, the human race. Period.

Fierce love spills forth from intense compassion and the intention to make a difference. This may look like the giving of your time to mentor another or working beside someone to help without looking for kudos. Fierce love may be paying for someone’s meal in secret. It may involve collectively walking a labyrinth with the intention of unity… an outpouring of mercy that flows from underground.

You might think I sound naive. Annie, how can these small things make a difference?

Do you remember the story of the starfish? A man was throwing starfish back into the ocean after a storm that washed thousands ashore. “There are so many starfish,” an observer commented. “You can’t possibly hope to save them all. What you are doing can’t really matter.”

“It matters to this one”, the beach walker said, tossing one more stranded starfish into the water. “It matters to this one…”

What expressions of Fierce Love have you seen? How do you demonstrate Fierce Love in your own life? Remember, no expression is too small. Those who judge are probably choosing to not live in this manner.