These wise words are from my Pagan daughter:
We start today with John, first chapter: In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God. All things were made by Him and in Him was life, and the life was the light of man. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
And what is this Word, this "life of life"? What is this light that still shines and still overcomes the dark? Is not love the light? Love is the Word that is in God. Love is the light that is in us all! Even though this light sometimes seems overshadowed, it's still shining. It's still there for any with the courage to embrace it! Let the light cast out the darkness.
Cast out the enemies of love, get rid of the Hate and Doubt and Greed and Vengeance. Love is the most powerful force in the Cosmos. "Love conquers all" is not trite, it's axiomatic. No more than the plain and simple truth. There is NO obstacle that Love cannot overcome. FOR GOD IS LOVE. The more we love, the more capable of love we become. The more love we give the closer to God we become until, through the perfect expression of love, we discover we are God and God is us, and there is no more darkness.
This is not a selfish love, there can be no ego in this love. EVERYTHING is deserving of love. Love emphasizes the dignity and worth of all. The mentally ill, the crippled, the criminal, and even the unborn need and deserve love. This does not mean we must open ourselves to abuse and punishment, for these are the antithesis of love. It means that with honest love, fear cannot flourish.
When love has truly turned away love's enemies, when love has completely taken over a soul, then that person, that Love, has become enlightened and the darkness has no power any more. And it's so easy to do; merely by knowing God is Love, there is no fear. Fear is only the absence of love. There is no punishment in love, only in love's absence. Love will flourish if you will live honestly with yourself and those around you. It is possible to achieve enlightenment through the simple truth and love. Love is God; when you love, you partake of God and God partakes of you. Whenyou give love, you give God.
It cannot be said often enough that love is the eternal life God promised. After all, God is the Life and God is Love and Love is eternal. So it is that one must seek to experience the eternal life here and now! Everyone has the right to to love. It is our duty to live as honestly as we can, to constantly grow and evaluate our lives, and never be completely satisfied that we have found the truth until we've found honest love for every living creature. Love does not elevate one above others; honest love unites one with others.