My friends’ son, Danilka, decided to conduct an experiment in hatching chicks. He read how to make an incubator at home, prepared everything, obtained two eggs, and began the experiment.
His room had a central-heating radiator that could be adjusted to the required temperature. He placed a towel on top of the radiator and wrapped the fresh chicken eggs in it. The chick embryos began growing and developing within the shells, and he could observe them by holding the eggs near a lamp.
At last, the long-awaited day arrived when the life within the shells began breaking through. First, small holes appeared, made by the chicks from inside. Then cracks spread across the surface of the shells. Danilka decided to help the young chicks escape from their prison. He broke the shells and set them free. The teenager’s joy knew no bounds. He felt like the father of these sweet creatures. He held them, kissed them, admired them, and thanked God.
But this happiness was not destined to last long. Very quickly, these young creatures grew cold and died. Danilka was devastated. He wept over the death of these fluffy little ones and was inconsolable in his grief. His parents had to arrange a solemn funeral and bury the dead creatures behind the house.
Afterward, Danilka began investigating why his little friends had died so quickly when everything had proceeded according to plan and on schedule. He discovered that the process of emerging from the shell must never be accelerated from outside. The chick must grow strong on its own, receive a portion of fresh air through the opening it has made, gather strength, and, through further effort, free itself from its dwelling at the time appointed by God. Through this process, the chick receives the strength and resources needed for further growth. It then begins developing harmoniously within its new environment, discovering the new world around it and becoming acquainted with others of its kind.
When speaking with fellow church members, I sometimes ask whether they keep the commandments of God written in the Bible. They look at me with surprise and assure me that, yes, they do. Then I ask whether they keep Christ’s commandment to love one another. At this point, the surprise disappears, and they begin to think. Deception will not work, but they do not want to tell the truth. Then I ask whether they have a friend whom they love with Eternal love and who loves them in the same way. A pause follows, after which I usually hear sincere admissions that they have no such friends. Then I give them hope that this can be corrected and invite them to our School of Agape Love, assuring them that if they begin studying this science, they will certainly learn something and their lives will change.
I can only tell people about our School and invite them. Each person must emerge from his own shell according to the strength and desire he possesses.
Loving one another has particular principles and qualities that must be respected. Events must not be hurried, lest what should spring up and find its own way out be destroyed at the root. Every seed has its own incubation period. Only a smile can instantly gather an abundant harvest of the good fruit of smiles in return.
Much has already been written about love. As I studied this science, I chose a friend for this love and decided to test the full power of this weapon upon him. With God’s support, I make the final decision to love my friend eternally, forever, at all times, and under every circumstance. I offer a prayer about this to the Heavenly Father, ask for His blessing in the Name of Jesus, and announce before the entire invisible spiritual world that from now on I will always love my friend, both upon this earth and throughout Eternity. At this time, something good also takes place within the spiritual world. My request is recorded in the Heavenly books, and an unlimited account of God’s agape is opened in my name. This love is now available to me at any time and in any amount, without restriction. I joyfully tell my friend about my decision. Together, we rejoice over this great event in our friendship, and my friend can now make use of my friendliness at any time and make his life happy according to his need.
We experience such joy and happiness within this decision of mine. Without outside help or pressure, I emerged from my shell on my own and decided to love the dear friend Jesus gave me. My gratitude knows no bounds. My friend is as happy as I am, but I am even happier because I love. No one can take this joy from me.
Yet I also understand that the commandment concerning agape for one another is mutual. My decision to love is only my decision. Although my friend rejoices in my new attitude toward him, he is still sitting within his own shell. I greatly desire to help him emerge from it, and I know how this can be done. The temptation is very strong. I long to make an appeal and pull this dear soul into the embrace of my love so that together we may become full participants in obeying God’s command.
But something within restrains me. I understand that I must not hurry another person’s will or help him make rapid decisions for which he has not yet matured. The happiness within me is ready to crash down upon this fragile shell of human indecision, sweep everything away, and free my friend’s will from its cracked enclosure. But the Lord places His hand upon my shoulder and gently stops me. He persuades me to wait—to wait for a long time—and continue loving my dear friend tenderly, patiently expecting the moment when he himself decides to love me with Eternal love and asks for Heavenly strength to do so. He will certainly tell me when this happens. Afterward, he will surely reassure me several more times that he has become established in this decision and that it has now been written forever within his heart.
Until this happens, we continue our friendship. I love someone very dear to me who is still considering how he should continue living or does not yet understand what is required from his side.
The Lord respects my freedom in relation to Him. He waits a very long time for my decision to love Him from a pure heart—not merely in words, but with an understanding of what this requires.
The science of love is not revealed to the mind in a single day. First, it conceives a Heavenly embryo within my heart. Then it forms the organs of feeling and perception and shapes my consciousness and will. When I grow strong in this development, love begins showing me the way out of my lukewarm condition, giving me strength to overcome obstacles and tear down strongholds. I understand that I am in a comfort zone where I may rot if I do not emerge into the freedom of Eternal love. I make a decision, gather courage, and step into the abyss of God’s boundless ocean of agape. Immediately, I fall into God’s hands. They strengthen me in my new decision and then establish me by taking me through fiery trials. I can only watch and marvel.
Then a miracle occurs: my friend pokes his joyful head out of his shelter and, with a happy smile, tells me that he agapes me too. It is so wonderful that there are no words for such happiness!
Bible Verses for Reflection
1 Peter 1:22; John 13:34–35; 14:15; 15:9–19; Exodus 20:6; Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 112:1; Matthew 12:29–31; 24:12; 1 John 3:23–24; 4:19–21; 5:1–4; 2 John 1:5–6; Revelation 22:14.