Be Loved, Beloved

If you ever watched Iyanla, Fix My Life, then you know that the host, Iyanla Vanzant, addressed everyone as “Beloved.” I used to wonder why, of all the terms of affection, she chose that one: Beloved? Over time, I came to understand what Mama Iyanla already seemed to know: we need to be called into love. And, once we are in love, we can share love more easily. How else could a forgetful people like us continuously engage with love unless we are constantly reminded or re-called?

So, I call you, Beloved. And, like my muslim brothers and sisters understand, because we are forgetful people, we must call in the love we desire–the life we desire–at least five times a day. I call you beloved not once, but once every sunrise, mid-day, afternoon, evening and night. 

You are beloved!

Beloved, you are beloved!

Beloved, be loved.

Now that I’ve called you in, I ask with love: Why aren’t you sharing your gifts? 

Beloved, your gifts can only become what they truly are when they are shared, for a gift would be nothing without a gifting. An ungifted gift becomes like a lump of granite sitting in the corner; a heavy reminder of the lie we tell ourselves in order to keep our gifts inside and hidden: my gift is not good enough—it is not worth giving. 

Nothing could be further from the truth. 

The things that make you curious matter even if no one else seems to think so, because that curiosity paves the way to your gifts. Follow that compass of curiosity. As long as you do what you set out to do, as long as you stay on the path your curiosity paves, you will be successful! If you get lost along the way, call love in to guide you.

You are beloved!

Beloved, you are beloved!

Beloved, be loved.