The circle of all-inclusive Love
Recognizing that God’s love embraces every one of us is a powerful basis for more inclusive and harmonious interactions.
When I was in grade school, my best friend and I started “The Best Friends Club.” The fact that she and I were the only members didn’t register – until one day it dawned on us that we were leaving everyone else out. We unanimously agreed to disband and experience a wider range of friendships with others around us.
In later years I learned that Love is another name for God. I began to see that this divine Love is infinite, and that God liberally showers love on everyone. A thought-expanding statement in “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” by Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer of Christian Science, says this: “The depth, breadth, height, might, majesty, and glory of infinite Love fill all space” (p. 520).
I often ponder the magnitude of that, and what it means to be right where the limitless love of God is, filling all space and including everyone in an infinite circle of tender, nurturing care. There are no limits there.
At one time I was having a challenging experience with someone that made our unavoidable interactions very unpleasant. This person seemed to enjoy insulting me in group settings, and I prayed about it. Finally I came to the conclusion that this individual could never be outside the circle of infinite Love, because God expresses limitless love in all of us as His spiritual offspring. Inside this atmosphere of God’s love, only love can be expressed – and only love can be experienced.
With this realization, the situation changed very quickly. And this person and I have remained good friends over the many years since.
We have the right to claim our place – and everyone’s place – in the boundless circle of infinite Love, where no one is ever left out, since there is room enough for us all.
Adapted from the July 23, 2021, Christian Science Daily Lift podcast.