VII. Love Quickens
The measure of love is to love without measure.
I do not know where I happened upon this saying, my loveliest love, but isn't it so true?
When I was younger, I looked at love differently. I took it from itself.
I made love mine and mine alone.
I wanted my girlfriend for myself and myself alone. And she wanted the same of me.
But love has a way of turning the tables on strangers like us.
In its own mysterious time, unknown to the uninitiated, to make itself known, love suddenly reveals itself.
With a sword, love pierces the heart. It draws blood to quicken the lovers to itself.
Then with strong arms, it subdues the self until it makes us all its own.
And suddenly, the stranger is a stranger no more.
We are one.
Unfortunately, my darlingest dear, that relationship did not survive the quickening of love.
For our hearts were not able to bear the doubt.
Nor our egos able to withstand the hurt.
Neither of us were strong enough to bear for each other, our love; the failing of our youth.
I was hurt. She was hurt.
Love was also hurt.
But it was the hurting that heals and it was the bearing that teaches.
And so for many years I grieved. Not really knowing that love also wept with me.
I do not know how many years it took for love to bear me away from my grieving, my loveliest love. But when I was able to smile again, it was with you.
It is all that I can remember now...
- selah -
True love begins with a doubt.
When love asks of itself, "do you love me?"
If one loves the beloved without measure, there is a sense of wholeness that embraces the lovers both ways and the heart that knows it doubts itself not saying,
I do.
There is a bittersweet pain to loving.
Lovers long for each other like love longing for itself alone.
It is the experience of being in love.
'Tis pain and joy.
For the quickening of love hurts.
Truly, it must.
Love reassures us wonderfully however, and gives us every chance to prove ourselves.
For at the same time loves takes us unto itself, love sets us free.
- selah -
Now that I have been hurt, I can love again.
(personal anecdote 20090824)
---<--@
“Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts. And stand together, yet not too near together: For the pillars of the temple stand apart, and the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.”
from The Prophet by Khalil Gibran
The measure of love is to love without measure.
I do not know where I happened upon this saying, my loveliest love, but isn't it so true?
When I was younger, I looked at love differently. I took it from itself.
I made love mine and mine alone.
I wanted my girlfriend for myself and myself alone. And she wanted the same of me.
But love has a way of turning the tables on strangers like us.
In its own mysterious time, unknown to the uninitiated, to make itself known, love suddenly reveals itself.
With a sword, love pierces the heart. It draws blood to quicken the lovers to itself.
Then with strong arms, it subdues the self until it makes us all its own.
And suddenly, the stranger is a stranger no more.
We are one.
Unfortunately, my darlingest dear, that relationship did not survive the quickening of love.
For our hearts were not able to bear the doubt.
Nor our egos able to withstand the hurt.
Neither of us were strong enough to bear for each other, our love; the failing of our youth.
I was hurt. She was hurt.
Love was also hurt.
But it was the hurting that heals and it was the bearing that teaches.
And so for many years I grieved. Not really knowing that love also wept with me.
I do not know how many years it took for love to bear me away from my grieving, my loveliest love. But when I was able to smile again, it was with you.
It is all that I can remember now...
- selah -
True love begins with a doubt.
When love asks of itself, "do you love me?"
If one loves the beloved without measure, there is a sense of wholeness that embraces the lovers both ways and the heart that knows it doubts itself not saying,
I do.
There is a bittersweet pain to loving.
Lovers long for each other like love longing for itself alone.
'Tis pain and joy.
Truly, it must.
Love reassures us wonderfully however, and gives us every chance to prove ourselves.
- selah -
Now that I have been hurt, I can love again.
---<--@
“Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts. And stand together, yet not too near together: For the pillars of the temple stand apart, and the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.”
from The Prophet by Khalil Gibran