"Love Holds Us." By Victor Acquista.
- Victor Acquista
- 10 hours ago
- 3 min read
She’s 7.5 lbs, about a year old according to our veterinarian’s office that scanned the stray dog after she came into our lives earlier this week. No chip, no collar, unclaimed days later. My wife named her Mia. Cradled in my arms and lap, I note her slow breath and feel the comforting beat of her heart. We are connected in this moment of stillness.
I project my thoughts in imagining what she thinks and feels—here and now I am safe and all my needs are met. Here and now, I am at peace. Here and now, in this moment, I am loved.
I imagine this is how I felt, embraced with love against my mother’s breast as an infant. This is being held. In these moments of shared presence, we rest in stillness together with another who is fully present in connection and communion. Immersed in and surrounded by love-–this is being held.
As I further reflect on this notion of being held, I cannot help but contrast it to holding on. It seems that so much of our time, energy, and effort is spent on trying to hold on to things we want or like, or in grasping for something beyond what we currently have. The opposite is also true—we spend much time, energy, and effort trying to push away the things we don’t like or want less of. All of this holding on, grasping for, pushing away are efforts to control what is. The unwillingness to accept what is becomes the focus of our attention.
Which feels better: resting/allowing/surrendering, or attempting to control circumstances by trying to hold on to something we want to continue or pushing aside something we seek to end? Isn’t it the case that our inability to control leads secondarily to frustration, unhappiness, or discouragement? Attached to these feelings are conclusions such as life is unfair, cruel, difficult, and all the egoic rationalizations and justifications that are in the wake of the desire to hold on and the unwillingness to let go.
Being held is letting go. It is surrendering to the moment with trust that God holds me in the palm of His hand. This is less about a God external to me and more about my higher self, the essence of divinity that is within me. That higher self always has intentions for my best interest and highest good even if I cannot see or understand what that outcome looks like at a particular moment of challenging life circumstances. When I let go of trying to control, and I surrender to love and trust the divine wisdom of my soul, I am allowing myself to be held. In that moment of here and now, I am safe, I am at peace, I am loved.
There is a sacred aspect to holding others. This goes beyond providing a shoulder to cry on. This requires being fully present with presence in stillness and connection. I have a dear friend who teaches people how to be better listeners. He repeatedly makes the point that listening is loving. Listening is a way that we can hold another person. If indeed we are God’s hands and feet, we are also Her ears. When we take time to listen with love and in heart-centered connection with another, this is also how we connect with our highest self. We all desire to love and to be loved. Giving and receiving love is something we can control. Create a space to hold others. Allow yourself to be held.
With eyes still closed, Mia releases a gentle sigh and shifts position. I wonder, who is holding who? Does it matter? At this moment, I feel held in God’s loving embrace.
Victor Acquista, M.D. has become a successful international author, columnist, and speaker following careers as a primary-care physician and medical executive. He is known for "Writing to Raise Consciousness." His current focus is on embodying a soul-centered presence and awareness in daily life. Dr. Acquista’s books have received multiple awards. His most recent release, Feed Your Hungry Soul: Awaken Your Loving Heart, offers twenty-five contemplative essays that invite reflection and spiritual transformation.
To connect with Victor about this reflection, please e-mail TCS at admin@contemplative.org. Your e-mails will be forwarded onto him.
Image:
Artist: Image by Carmine Chianese from Pixabay