Only love can give us the power to reconcile, to redeem, the power to renew weary spirits and save lost souls. -bell hooks
The transformative power of love is the foundation of all meaningful social change. -bell hooks
One of my favorite books of all time is “All About Love” by bell hooks. This week’s wisdom reflects just a few of the powerful ideas she explores in the book. One of her more famous quotes about love conveys the idea that love is a verb. Love is not merely a feeling, it is something we do and must be reflected in our actions and how we live. Love has energy. Love has power. Love is alive. Love transforms. Love animates and gives power to so many aspects of life. Indeed, love redeems, reconciles and saves. Everything good is strengthened by love, and everything wrong can be transformed through the energy of love.
I’ve been engaging in deep reflection about love this month. “Compassionate Love” is the May theme for the Year of Wisdom and Healing program. I have also been working on an article on Black Love and activism with two beloved colleagues, Dr. Earl Turner and Dr. Thema Bryant-Davis. We conclude our paper with the words from bell hooks. It really is love for our communities and love for the beauty of the full expression of our humanity that underlies the demand for justice and can be a powerful fuel for activism.
I invite you to reflect on the ways that you are living love and bringing the energy of love into the different parts of your life. What can you do to level-up the activation of love?
With Peace, Love, and Soulfulness,
Dr. Shelly Harrell
