I have been contemplating the attributes of God this week. If you have read my previous blogs, you will note that I have expounded on ‘Beauty’ and ‘Peace’. Today, being the celebration of 22 years of marriage to my beloved, Patrick Feren, it seems so appropriate to contemplate the attribute of Love. Ernest Holmes once wrote (and it is my favorite quote on Love), “Love is a Cosmic Force whose sweep is irresistible.” What does this mean?

Before I met Patrick Feren, before this man came into my life, I had struggled with the concept of Love. I thought it was something that made Valentine’s and such. I thought it was something that I had to go out and get to prove I was worthy. It wasn’t until I came to realize that Love was who I am that I was able to love another unconditionally. I remember when I was getting to know Patrick, I thought, “this is what unconditional love is, and this relationship will be unconditional love;” and it was and it is.

What is unconditional love? For me, it is true love because it comes from a place where you just love. You are not expecting anything in return because you realize that you are love. Love can never leave you NO MATTER WHAT. It is the essence of your beingness and the energy of your cells. It is living a heart-centered life. It is being an open vessel of Love so you can love and be loved.

Patrick and I have been through so much in these 22 years. We sat here this morning marveling on the degrees of experiences we have had in the world of form – from life-threatening illnesses, financial struggles to building the Center for Spiritual Living Kaua`i together. We could never have survived and thrived if we didn’t have that strong love for ourselves and then for each other. However, please know, it had to come from self-love first. We weren’t swallowed up in our relationship; but instead, looking out into the world from our love, knowing we could make a difference.

As we celebrate 22 years today, July 1, 2023, I am so grateful for all the gifts that this partnership with this man have awakened within me. Most importantly, I have experienced total acceptance and total freedom to be my true self. I trust I have done the same for Patrick. Having a partner, lover and friend with whom I can share everything is the greatest blessing that comes from loving oneself first. “Love is most definitely a Cosmic Force whose sweep is irresistible.” And as Emerson wrote when defining God, “God is Love.”

May we all experience ourselves as Love, and love and be loved in return.

Happy Anniversary, Patrick and Rita!

Love and Aloha,

Rev. Rita Andreillo-Feren, Author, Teacher, Artist and Co-Spiritual Director of CSL Kaua`i and the Institute of Magnificence. Find my books on Amazon