“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.”
Hamilton Wright Mabie
Happy Monday!
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Joyous Kwanzaa! What a glorious season for sharing peace, love, kindness, and hope. This is the week to sideline our challenges and enjoy the season’s spirit. I know this will be asking a lot of some, and limits and boundaries will be more appropriate for others, but it’ll be worth the effort.
I’ve been thinking quite a bit about the word conspiracy lately, as there seems to be an overabundance of theories. I was curious about a definition and found this in the Oxford Dictionary:
“… the theory that an event or phenomenon occurs as a result of a conspiracy between interested parties; a belief that some covert but influential agency (typically political in motivation and oppressive in intent) is responsible for an unexplained event.”
In today’s media, conspiracy theories are most often viewed negatively. They can be psychologically damaging, particularly when coupled with psychopathological personality types and/or when coupled with an emotional connection to a lack of control, fear or uncertainty, or perceived threats. Conspiracy theories can be pretty scary.
Since there’s an element of agreement with others and a component of going against the flow of mainstream thinking, I wonder what would happen if we created a counter-cultural conspiracy to the negativity. What if those of us who believe in positivity, goodness, kindness, dignity, and equitable treatment got together and created our own theories of love, peace, and unconditional regard? Wouldn’t that be a coup?!!
Hamilton Wright Mabie, an American essayist who lived in the late 1800s and early 1900s, shared these thoughts:
Yes, these holidays give us a chance to engage others in love. What an extraordinary conspiracy to espouse and promote! Even if we struggle during the season, when we step outside ourselves and entertain thoughts of goodness and kindness, the natural reaction is a loving and inclusive attitude. Choosing joy instead of sadness, peace instead of anger, and goodwill to others takes a minute. Sometimes, we have to make an effort to put our worries aside for a bit and allow ourselves to enjoy some peaceful moments of nonjudgement of ourselves and others. It’s a way to connect with this conspiracy of love that Mabie observed.
Here is a Scriptural example of what I’m suggesting from Galatians 5:22 that will help create a conspiracy of love. It’s a little lengthy but worth the read:
“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, and serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, and able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.” (The Message)
Sounds like a fantastic twist on conspiracy to me, and I hope to you, too. Give it a try this season. Create space in your heart and mind to accept joy and peace, regardless of your current situation. You’ll be surprised how quickly it grows to overflowing.
Then, with the abundance you have, shower others with unconditional regard. Smile at the over-stressed store clerk who’s being a little snarky. Bless your mail carrier or trash pickup personnel with a drink and cookies. Don’t use your favorite expletive on the guy who just cut you off on the freeway; pray for him to get home to his family safely. These acts of kindness take little effort and significantly contribute to the conspiracy of love.
I hope a conspiracy of love surrounds you this season and into the coming year. I pray for mental and emotional wellbeing, financial security, and a sense of purpose. I pray you, those important to you, and the people you come in contact with are blessed with the knowledge of how important you are and how richly you’re loved.
Merry Christmas!
Be Well & Be Blessed!
Lucinda
