The three loves

I've been reading The Unconscious Civilization, a book about the role of the individual, business, and government in our society; thanks to David Pollard's reading list at how to save the world

I'm finding myself agreeing with the book on many levels. One, it explains why I make a horrible employee (I tend to take a selfless interest in the wellbeing of any business that I work for, instead of playing politics). Two, it explains about the various power grabs the church has made over the years and how it has tried to put the people into passive roles. And three, it discusses where the true value in government lies, which is putting boundaries on any entity which would seek to enslave the population (and this is happening all the time). It points out how many of the ideas that are associated with democracy are actually good for corporations and not the people, and really have nothing to do with democracy (like free trade & the money markets).

I found a copy at my local library, but you can also find many great excerpts online. Here is one particular article that covers a lot of ground. You can also read the first six pages and various other excerps at Amazon.

What connected this to my spiritual walk was this piece:

Aelred of Rievaulx was talking about the three loves love of self, of others and of God. These three, 'though obviously different, yet so amazingly dovetail into one another that not only is each found in all of them and all in each, but where you have one there you have all, and should one fail, all fail.""

Note that these three loves have nothing to do with faith, hope and charity, the standard hierarchical qualities of a faithful believer as recognized by the church. Note also that faith and hope were passive qualities. The believer's faith and hope were expressions of what he would receive from divine forces. Charity also was passive for the vast majority who were rarely in a position to do more than receive the moral, ethical and concrete charity of the elites.

We have no problem looking after ourselves, though it is arguable that we are more miserable today than any time before, and I think the answer lies not in further therapy (looking back at the wounds of our childhood), but looking outside of ourselves: to others, and to God. These two commandments were very clear from Jesus:

Matthew 22:36-39 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

And as I pointed out before, these were actually mentioned back in the old testament in Deuteronomy 6.

I believe Aelred was correct: if you do not balance your love, attention, and focus equally between these three areas: self, community and God; then all shall fail.

[ref]
book reviews by John McCrory, John Mark Ministries, Brock Reviews, customer reviews, and OC Books.
Quotes, excerps, and what looks to be the entire text.
This book won the 1996 Governor General's Literary Award.