A Miracle Of Love

The power of love is an expression that people sometimes use, but the real experience is the most wonderful thing you could ever wish for. I was blessed with a miracle that showed up as a strong energy that instantly moved through me. It was not merely a strong feeling of love for another person, but an experience of being the love itself and becoming one with the so-called other person. I knew exactly what to do and say when all of this happened.

So, how did this miracle of love show up? And what did it look like in the story of the world? The days before the miracle I felt aggressive. I was looking and praying for another way. On the actual day of the miracle I found a way to be joyful and still prayed for a shift. I went to work and a consultation meeting for students was planned. Students were allowed to come and visit during this hour for a specific purpose.

A student entered the room who was showing a different kind of energy. He seemed uninterested in the purpose of the meeting and a little bit provocative. Although I talked to him, I couldn’t pinpoint what was going on with him. Internally I kept on asking for help in this situation. Despite my efforts, I noticed we were getting more and more into tension and some kind of battle. It turned out he had come for a consultation of another assignment which was not the purpose of the meeting.

I asked another colleague to sit with the students and asked this particular student to come to my office. We had a talk about the other assignment and his questions. I said I was sorry how we started off. He also felt sorry and I said that we could start over. I asked him how he was doing, and he told me that he received bad news earlier that day: a village in his home country in the middle-east had been destroyed.

Then from one moment to the other a strong energy started moving through me and there was so much love. I felt that I was only love and it felt as if he was part of me. It is difficult to describe, but it was as if I was his mother or as if it was “my” mother-love that filled him. He started crying and he said he never cries.

I talked to him about forgiveness and that he had to end the war within him. I said that he knew what revenge would lead to and that he had to choose for love. I knew exactly what to say. I said that I cared about him, but it felt that this was coming from a different and deeper place inside of me than usual.

He kept on crying and saying sorry about our start of the meeting. While the tears kept pouring, he stuck out his hand to shake mine as a peace offering and a sign of apology. I felt just as sorry as he was and could see the savior in him, because we both could release, in that moment, the battle and aggression that was inside of us. I was so incredibly grateful for our encounter. The uplifted state of love within me continued also after our meeting.

Een Wonder van Liefde

De kracht van liefde is een uitdrukking die mensen soms gebruiken, maar de echte ervaring is het meest geweldige dat je je ooit kunt wensen. Ik was gezegend met een wonder dat zich aandiende als een sterke energie die direct door me heen bewoog. Het was niet alleen een sterk gevoel van liefde voor een andere persoon, maar een ervaring van zelf de liefde te zijn en eenwording met een zogenaamde andere persoon. Op het moment dat het gebeurde, wist ik precies wat ik moest doen en zeggen.

Dus, hoe verscheen dit wonder van liefde? En hoe zag het eruit in het verhaal van de wereld? De dagen voor het wonder, voelde ik me agressief. Ik zocht en bad voor een andere manier. Op de dag van het wonder, vond ik een manier om vreugdevol te zijn en ik bleef bidden voor een wending.

Ik ging naar m’n werk en er was een consultatie afspraak voor studenten gepland. Studenten mochten hiervan gebruik maken en het uur had een specifieke bedoeling. Een student kwam de ruimte binnen, maar hij liet een totaal andere energie zien. Hij leek ongeïnteresseerd in het doel van de afspraak en was een beetje aan het provoceren. Hoewel ik met hem praatte, kon ik niet vaststellen wat er met hem aan de hand was. Vanbinnen bleef ik voor hulp vragen in deze situatie.

Ondanks mijn pogingen, merkte ik dat we alleen maar meer in spanning terecht kwamen en zelfs een soort strijd. Uiteindelijk bleek dat hij naar de afspraak was gekomen met een andere opdracht wat niet het doel van de afspraak was. Ik vroeg een andere collega om bij de studenten te zitten en vroeg deze student om naar mijn kantoor te komen. We spraken over de andere opdracht en zijn vragen daarover. Ik zei dat het me speet hoe onze ontmoeting gestart was. Ik vroeg hem hoe het met hem ging en hij vertelde me dat hij eerder op die dag slecht nieuws had ontvangen: een dorp in zijn thuisland in het Midden-Oosten was verwoest. Van het ene op het andere moment begon een sterke energie door me heen te stromen en er was zoveel liefde. Ik voelde dat ik alleen nog liefde was en het voelde alsof hij deel van mij was. Het is moeilijk te beschrijven, maar het was alsof ik zijn moeder was of alsof “mijn” moederliefde hem totaal vulde. Hij begon te huilen en hij zei dat hij nooit huilt.

Ik begon tegen hem te praten over vergeving en dat hij de oorlog in zichzelf moest beëindigen. Ik zei dat hij wist waartoe wraak zou leiden en dat hij moest kiezen voor liefde. Ik wist precies wat ik moest zeggen. Ik zei dat ik om hem gaf, maar het voelde alsof dit vanuit een hele andere en diepere plek in mijzelf kwam dan normaal. Hij bleef huilen en sorry zeggen over hoe onze afspraak was begonnen. Terwijl de tranen bleven stromen, stak hij zijn hand uit om de mijne te schudden als een vredesaanbod en een teken van verontschuldiging. Ik voelde net zoveel berouw als hem en zag de verlosser in hem, omdat we beiden in dat moment de strijd en agressie die in ons was, los konden laten. Ik was zo ontzettend dankbaar voor deze ontmoeting. De verhoogde staat van liefde in mij bleef voortduren, ook na onze ontmoeting.

What is the value of a master?

Once upon a time there was a master painter. His name? Rembrandt van Rijn. But if you think his mastery three centuries ago came about by accident you’re mistaken. Of course, he was talented, but Rembrandt had no fewer than two masters before he became a master himself. (Salient detail: Rembrandt once portrayed himself as apostle Paul.)

So, if someone with Rembrandt’s talents had two masters the question arises; What is the value of a master? Well, not so long ago, anyone who wanted to learn a trade found himself a master who could teach him. That was and still is the only way to get a grip on a trade and its intricacies. Further back in history there was for example the Shamanic tradition whereby the shaman recognized his student - and vice versa - which was the beginning of a journey; the journey to mastery.

In the past the idea of having a master was widespread and that having a master is desperately needed to attain mastery. But in the West we have almost lost that idea. Schools nowadays are training their students without incorporating the essence and value of having a master.

This development has led to strange looks in our society if you tell that you are following a spiritual path and that you have a teacher who has achieved mastery. Although we have a perfect role model in Jesus who was such a teacher two thousand years ago. He was, and still is, a person of whom you can decide at any time: that is my master; I want to follow him.

How I see it is that Jesus had his ultimate initiation hanging on the cross when he said to his Father: ‘Into Thy hands I commend my spirit’. I say ultimate because according to me it was a moment of complete surrender.

Listen, learn and follow were the three steps that Jesus took toward him becoming a master. Listen to the Holy Spirit, then learn the lesson and finally put that into being.

Because of Jesus we no longer have to end on the cross. That’s also his mastery. Because, when Jesus gave himself for the redemption of his brother, he did it for the Sonship. Jesus became forgiveness and dispelled all darkness being the light of the world.

But for Hollywood that is not dramatic enough. That’s why someone like Mel Gibson made a movie - The Passion of the Christ - wherein Jesus is a typical American hero who, while supressing the pain and fighting the devil, he finally emerged as the victor. But what he really demonstrates is that there is no death through his resurrection and ascension.

The faithfulness of two women is striking in Jesus' cloister. Jesus is the first to share His resurrection with both Mary’s. Striking, because it was an era of male dominion. But Jesus couldn’t care less. I think he chose the two women because they were the ones that were most heart-devoted to him. To Jesus the master.

I want to go back to the cross for one more moment. Also hanging on the cross, Jesus shows his mastery, his last lessons to us that want to follow him in meekness. There and then he was still thinking about the well-being of his mother after his crucifixion and asked John to take care of her. He also asked for forgiveness for his executioners and he comforted the criminal next to him on the cross…

Mastery bears witness to the victory of the soft forces. The poet Lucebert once wrote: Everything of value is defenceless.

Frans Vermeulen