Let us, in our hearts and minds
reach out for the meaning of love.
Love, despite the dictionary,
is an emotion, a force.
Mating may be accomplished without love
in fact hate, fear or revenge
may be a motive, as in rape.
How then, is mating said to be making love?
Certainly mating, while loving someone,
is extraordinary and wonderful.
Surely sex education should teach this
but it seldom does.
No, love is so strong a force
that people who love selflessly
may sacrifice their lives for others.
Love is a driving force,
a maker of joy or sorrow,
a feeling of fulfillment or despair.
But love can also relate to art
or other creatures outside our own species.
It may even be abstract expecting
no response, as in the love of the sea
or music or beautiful gardens.
Love encompasses everything,
holds everything together.
Love is much greater than us.
If love is so important, may we say
there is little else of such importance?
Perhaps, all there is to understand, is love?
But we can love or be loved without
acknowledging or being acknowledged in that love.
Therefore, love is greater than us.
Love is a huge and powerful force.
Love and suffering are often entwined.
Through suffering we may learn to love.
We may see beyond self indulgent love,
to a love of all people and creatures.
If we learn to love, through our own suffering,
or the suffering of others, then through suffering,
we may learn the healing power of love.
Some say. “If God is so loving, why does he allow
innocents to suffer so horribly?”
But perhaps it is us who allow this suffering.
Is it possible that all the suffering, in the world
is there to awaken the love in our hearts?
Is that what we are here for?
Is love the lesson and the meaning of life?
David Garlick, Sidney, January, 2003