Sunday 26 July 2015

What is love?


 
Love.
What is it?

Hope, says the hopeful.
Faith, says the faithful.

Unconditional, says the loving parent.
Compassion, says the enlightened monk.


Painful, says the jilted lover.
God, says the devout believer.

All you need, says the song writer.
Theme for a sonnet, says the poet.

Mysterious, says the philosopher.
Brain chemistry, says the neuroscientist.

Confusing, says the teenager.
Elusive, says the lonely.

Caring for others, says the philanthropist.
Acceptance, says the open minded.

Not very practical, says the pragmatic.
Everything, says the romantic.

Hard to define, says the literature professor.
A many splendored thing, says the script writer.

Wonderful, says the person in love.
Hard to find, says the cynic.

Friendship, says the loyal friend.
Family, says the devoted matriarch and patriarch.

Connecting with other humans, says the humanitarian.
When two souls become one, says the lover.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Perhaps love can be likened to air?
Although surrounded by it, we cannot see it, or touch it, but without it, we cannot live.
We can see the effects of moving air; as in wind; just like we can see the effects of "moving" love: kindness, compassion, empathy, generosity, tenderness, intimacy, connectedness, forgiveness, acceptance, tolerance, and so much more.  Just like air can become polluted by toxins and make it hard for us to breathe, so can love be when "polluted" by hatred, indifference, jealousy, greed, and envy.
We fare best when we can fill our lungs with unpolluted, clean, and fresh air, and may I suggest, that we also fare best when we fill our hearts, souls, and minds, with "unpolluted" love.

"Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love."
(Mother Teresa)

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