Love as a Practice

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Love emerges not as approval of harmful behavior but as disciplined attention to the good in others and a commitment to help them recognize it.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The Flock’s Rejection The Flock’s Rejection from "Jonathan Livingston Seagull". The Wound of Separation A Broken Bond The flock rejects Jonathan for pursuing a purpose beyond its accepted way of life.

The Flock’s Rejection from "Jonathan Livingston Seagull". The Wound of Separation A Broken Bond The flock rejects Jonathan for pursuing a purpose beyond its accepted way of life.

The Wound of Separation A Broken Bond The flock rejects Jonathan for pursuing a purpose beyond its accepted way of life. A Seed of Concern He is saddened less by solitude than by the flock’s refusal to see what flight could mean. Even rejection leaves his concern for other gulls intact.

Chiang’s Last Words Chiang’s Last Words from "Jonathan Livingston Seagull". Love Named as Work A Brief Instruction As Chiang disappears, he tells Jonathan to keep working on love.

Chiang’s Last Words from "Jonathan Livingston Seagull". Love Named as Work A Brief Instruction As Chiang disappears, he tells Jonathan to keep working on love.

Love Named as Work A Brief Instruction As Chiang disappears, he tells Jonathan to keep working on love. An Unfinished Skill The wording makes love something practiced and learned, not a feeling Jonathan can simply claim. It becomes the next challenge after his technical and mental achievements.

Choosing to Teach Choosing to Teach from "Jonathan Livingston Seagull". Returning for Others Remembering the Struggler Jonathan wonders whether an earthly gull is trying to escape the limits he once faced.

Choosing to Teach from "Jonathan Livingston Seagull". Returning for Others Remembering the Struggler Jonathan wonders whether an earthly gull is trying to escape the limits he once faced.

Returning for Others Remembering the Struggler Jonathan wonders whether an earthly gull is trying to escape the limits he once faced. Care in Action His desire to return grows as he studies kindness. Teaching becomes his way of offering another gull a chance to see for itself.

Loving After Violence Loving After Violence from "Jonathan Livingston Seagull". Love Without Approval Fletcher’s Question Fletcher cannot understand how Jonathan can love a mob that has just tried to kill them.

Loving After Violence from "Jonathan Livingston Seagull". Love Without Approval Fletcher’s Question Fletcher cannot understand how Jonathan can love a mob that has just tried to kill them.

Love Without Approval Fletcher’s Question Fletcher cannot understand how Jonathan can love a mob that has just tried to kill them. Seeing the Gull Beneath the Act Jonathan distinguishes the gull from hatred and evil, asking Fletcher to practice seeing the good in each bird and help them see it too.

Fletcher Sees His Students Fletcher Sees His Students from "Jonathan Livingston Seagull". Love Passed On A Teacher’s View Fletcher begins instructing a new group, initially meeting their skeptical response with practical level flight.

Fletcher Sees His Students from "Jonathan Livingston Seagull". Love Passed On A Teacher’s View Fletcher begins instructing a new group, initially meeting their skeptical response with practical level flight.

Love Passed On A Teacher’s View Fletcher begins instructing a new group, initially meeting their skeptical response with practical level flight. Recognition He suddenly sees the learners as they truly are and realizes that he loves what he sees. Jonathan’s lesson becomes Fletcher’s own practice.

at Jonathan’s expulsion

at the end of Chiang’s teaching

after Chiang’s departure

the morning after the flock attacks Fletcher

at the closing scene