Rule of Love

 One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbo
r as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”; and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbor as oneself”,—this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question. Mark 12:28-34

Rule of Love

We are on this road together
travelers all with one Creator
bound together daily to strangers
we can choose to love or hate.

We might find ourselves in need
as we journey the lonesome highway
the neighbor that we carried carries us
we live another day because of them.

God is near to the weary and sorrowful
close to laughing children doing chores
close to the poor and neglected as well
who need love today as we travel on.

Early in the morning in muted light
we are drawn to the Creator's beauty
we breathe deep as we face east
we give thanks for another day to love.

And as the day closes in deep darkness
we rejoice in those who made us whole
the ones who walked with us sharing burdens
the ones who we were able to carry today.