Find the Love - Jim Hannah

Reflection – Find The Love

May these words that I speak and these songs I sing be grounded in my soul encouraged by the spirit presence in me; and may these words and songs you hear be captured by your soul, enlivened by the spirit presence in you. Amen.

         Song – The Glory of Love (Billy Hill, 1963)

You’ve got to give a little, take a little

And let you poor heart break a little;

That’s the story of, that’s the glory of love.

Billy Hill wrote this song in 1936 during a time of depression and imminent war. Although written about a relationship between two people, I see this in a broader context of finding a way to a place of love in all circumstances, good or bad, win or lose. And it’s this broader and yet more intimate sense of love that I want to focus on today.

The psalmist writes, “all creation, from the distant stars to the depths of the seas is held together by the Oneness of Love. I wrote a song a few years ago called Showing Beauty’s Way. In the chorus I say “Love is the Cosmos marrow.” For me Love is to the universe what bone marrow is to our bodies. Marrow makes all the components of our blood that we need to survive: red blood cells carry oxygen, white blood cells prevent infection, platelets control bleeding. In the same way I believe that it is love that is the driving force of the universe and without it I’m not sure what life would be like.

It seems to me that our life work is to love more fully, to see beauty in all places – not just in the rose in full bloom, but also when the petals are gone and only the dried hip remains. It means to look in each moment with deeper eyes…

Song – Showing Beauty’s Way (Jim Hannah, 2023)

Beauty is in every moment, when we look with deeper eyes.

Beauty fills each heart that’s aching, makes our spirit rise.

Beauty is the way of nature, when we open up our soul.

Beauty keeps our spirit dancing, makes our being whole…

our being whole.

Love is the Cosmos marrow, heart day to day…

Love is open, never narrow,

Showing Beauty’s way…

Showing Beauty’s way .

Beauty gives us life with meaning, when we let the wonder be.

Beauty finds a grace in presence, makes our living free.

Beauty grounds our very being, when we live a different way.

Beauty brings a gentle purpose, to each love filled day…

each love filled day.

Bring a gentle purpose to each love-filled day. Find love in every moment. Feeling love is certainly easier in times of joy and celebration. Love is usually very present as well in times of grief and loss. But how do we ground ourselves in love in the everyday moments of our lives? How do we not let other things like fear or anger or frustration overtake us? How do we keep from throwing baseballs through windows – metaphorically speaking?

Sometimes, like Moody Cow, we can take the time needed to gentle ourselves back to love. The challenge is to find and hold that love centre before and in the midst of whatever challenge is unfolding. This, for me is the practice of becoming love, not just day to day but moment to moment. It’s not easy, but I believe it’s worth the effort. It’s about seeking and finding that love that becomes the ground of your being…

Song – Find The Love (Jim Hannah, 2026)

Every life is made of joys and sorrows.

Every life unfolds in different ways.

Every life is reaching for tomorrow.

Every life means living day to day…

Every life is fragile and uncertain.

Every life is memory and song.

Every life must face a final curtain.

Every life is blessed with love so strong.

So find the love in every single moment.

Find the love in tragedy and bliss.

Feel the love within you ever constant.

Feel the love, there’s nothing quite like this.

Feel the love, there’s nothing quite like this.

Every life knows hard along with good times.

Every life is searching for the light.

Every life has peaks and valleys sometimes.

Every life can be a beacon bright.

Life calls us to be a beacon bright. Being Moody Cows is not much of a beacon and is definitely not life-giving. Too many people it seems labour in habits that diminish life. Just imagine, if you can, as the psalmist suggests, made decisions grounded in love, decisions that were actually life giving for every other!

James Broughton says “Quit you addiction to sneer and complain. Instead run with your wildfire. Maybe not the best choice of words in the Okanagan, but you know what he means. He continues, You are closer to glory leaping an abyss than upholstering a rut. At every crossroad be prepared to bump in to wonder. Only Love prevails!

Only love prevails! This is life to me! This is living! Every moment, everywhere!

Song – This is Life to Me (Jim Hannah, 2026)

Waking every morning to a brand new day.

Opening my eyes to see the dawn.

Feel the warmth upon me as I make my way.

Smell the fragrant dew before it’s gone.

This is life to me, this is living.

Every moment, everywhere.

When I’m present in this gift of being,

Life becomes…for love is there.

Knowing those around me by the way they give.

Opening my arms to each embrace.

Learning how to be myself, to freely live.

Trusting in the look on every face.

Resting every evening as the darkness comes.

Opening my heart into the night.

Reaching for the spirits of the earth as one,

Focused in the warmth of candlelight.

 This has become my practice – to live grounded in love as much as I can. No it’s not easy, but I feel better when I achieve it – even for a little time. It even feels more satisfying than breaking a window!

Song – The Glory of Love (Billy Hill, 1963)

You’ve got to give a little, take a little

And let you poor heart break a little;

That’s the story of, that’s the glory of love.

Amen.