Q:  I know this is kind of difficult, but I've been trying to figure out how love figures into the Universe scheming on our behalf. People are falling in love with one another all over the place, but so many times the other person doesn't love them back. Now a lot of people explain this with ideas of predetermination, but the Universe doesn't work on those principles. Maybe the Universe knows what's best for us, but if we provide the plan and it provides the action, than that wouldn't seem to be it's way of doing things. If you have any ideas it would be neat to see a mailing that touches on that. Thanks so much for the thoughts.

A:  I think I understand what you're asking, so here are several thoughts.

First off, people aren't really falling in love. As it was so well put in the Conversations With God series (Neale Donald Walsh), people fall "in need". But instead of saying "I need you very much." They say "I love you very much.", makes a much better sound bite. And so they are lying/misunderstanding each other (and themselves) from the get go.

Love is like the Universal glue that holds everything together. There is only love. It's not an emotion. It's not a phase. It would never be conditional. It doesn't come and go. This isn't to say we can't sense or feel love, particularly in moments of true, deep happiness... nor am I implying that the feelings we have aren't beautiful, but it's pretty safe to say, that what you see going on in the world is far more emotion based, need driven, than it is a celebration of freedom and appreciation.

Secondly, as to "how the Universe takes love into account when scheming on our behalf". Are you meaning, how does the Universe help us find romance?" If you are, it seems you might be of the persuasion that people "should be" in relationships. That they are "ideal", even meant to be, and a goal that we are all moving towards. None of these are necessarily true. Nothing is meant to be until we predetermine it through our own wants, desires and imaginings. So when it comes to relationships, the Universe does NOTHING on our behalf until or if we commission it - either at a conscious level, or perhaps through our deeper "soul" objectives/desires, but in either case, limited to within the confines of our own beliefs.

As far as the Universe "knowing what's best for us", glad you brought that up. The truth is, I refer to the Universe "doing things", like conspiring, because it helps the listener/reader realize that far bigger wheels are turning that make their reality work than what their own limited perspective of the world reveals. Plus it gives comfort knowing that "something" infinitely wise, loving and powerful is "out there" with our best interests in mind. However referring to the Universe this way is actually just a tool towards helping us realize that that something out there is us! We are that big, we are that powerful, and we are in control (usually too big a leap for most to take, and goes against the teachings of virtually every religion). In other words, the Universe is not actually out there planning and calculating our lives based upon what is best for us.

The problem with making references to our powers as "the Universe out there", of course, is that it presumes that we are not in control, and that the big decisions lie outside of ourselves. Again, neither are true. Still, the benefits of believing in such a Universe, or using such talk as a metaphor for our own powers, are both far better, and truer, than thinking we have to "go it" alone, with just our physical minds, often while being judged and frowned upon, by some angry, resentful God.

So now, your question about what does the Universe do for us, or want for us, in relationships... the answer might now be easier to see. Absolutely nothing. It's all about what we want for ourselves, what we decide, what we believe in, and what we make happen.