What is the answer?

I was reminded of something in my meditation today, and thought it might be helpful for someone else too.

I’ve often shared how life is a reflection of our internal beliefs – our world witnesses how we think and feel about ourselves and others. When we see something we don’t like, or that hurts us, it is often useful to look within and think, what belief am I holding about myself or the world that would make this situation a possibility?

A Course in Miracles also talks about how everything is either an expression of love, or a call *for* love. Whatever someone does, the response is always love.

In meditation, I asked for clarity about how these two things co-exist. I had been getting caught up in separated thinking – is this ‘my’ belief to heal, or is it theirs (and that because something seems to be a call for love, I should answer with love)?

I saw as soon as I asked the question what the answer was. ACIM actually tells us that the question is always answered simultaneously when we ask, but we have to be willing to hear the answer. I obviously was.

We are one. This other person’s seemingly thoughtless actions towards me highlighted an unhealed belief in myself, as well as showed that they were acting from a fear-based place and looking for love themselves. We were both calling for love in opposite ways, because we are one. The only way to heal is to look past the actions and answer with love.

“Whoever is saner at the time the threat is perceived should remember how deep is his indebtedness to the other and how much gratitude is due him, and be glad that he can pay his debt by bringing happiness to both.” (https://acim.org/acim/en/s/223#7:1 | T-18.V.7:1)

This is a complicated way of saying, whatever is going on, we all just want to feel safe and loved. We all just want to feel safe *to* love. So whatever happens, the answer is always to respond with love, in whatever way feels kindest and safest for us in the moment.