ONE LOVE CAFE

It's Friday night, and there is a poetry reading happening downstairs at the Cafe. I listened for awhile, then felt tired; decided I would rather have a cup of tea and write.
I spoke to a young woman shortly after I opened this morning, and our conversation stayed with me through the rest of my day. I could tell she wanted a book, and I guessed that she wasn't sure exactly what she was after. She ordered a steamed milk. We got talking. She was hoping to find a book on relationships; ah, yes. And I know she probably hadn't planned on it, but before long she was telling me about her situation. She had received an angry letter the previous day from someone whom she considered a close friend. This person had verbally attacked her and she was having trouble letting go of the negative energy that came with the words. Not only was she sad over the loss of the friendship, and feeling somewhat guilty over his alleged betrayal, she was also shocked by his spiteful words and purposeful maliciousness. Was this the same person she had been so intimate with, not long ago?
I could cleary see that this beautiful soul was allowing her friend's fear to to dim her gentle, yet radiant, light. I talked a bit about my experience with A Course In Miracles, and suggested a book that has helped me with my own relationship difficulites on many occasions. I have read the words in this book, 'A Return To Love' by Marianne Williamson, over and over again, on nights when I felt desperately alone and was certain I would die if the pain in my heart got any deeper. The section on relationships seems to speak directly to me, and I learn something new each time that I read it. I read this woman, who I shall name Allana, a passage from the chapter on relationships:
"What we think of as people's guilt is their fear. All negativity derives from fear. When someone is angry, they are afraid. When someone is rude, they are afraid. When someone is manipulative, they are afraid. When someone is cruel, they are afraid. There is no fear that love does not dissolve. There is no negativity that forgiveness does not transform. If we want to be rid of darkness, we must turn on a light. Similarly, if we want to be rid of fear, we cannot fight it but must replace it with love."
Allana finished her steamed milk and left with the book, on her way to the ocean in search of solitude and a quiet place to read. She said she would try to send her friend some love and light, and let go of the negativity that was not hers to carry.
I am thinking of her tonight.