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Love (again?)

A few years ago I quoted this:

http://billcobabe.blogspot.com/2010/11/but-im-in-love-and-i-am-happy.html

The First Circle is one of my favorite books. It's changed who I am, how I think, and how I view the world and others in it. It's a powerful book, one that I recommend as frequently as I can.

I think people misconstrue the nature of love. That's ok, I think. People can be forgiven for not understanding. Just take a look at this:



This is such a perfect commentary about what "love" has devolved to in our society - in our world. I love pizza. I love a good baseball game. I love cats. I love to feel love.

All of this tends to confuse the issue, and it leads to misunderstandings about what love really is.

To me, love is that connection we feel with another. It is exceedingly rare, and all the more precious because of it.

When I say connection, I don't mean a relationship. I have relationships with people that I care very much about, but which nevertheless is not love.

No, love is an indescribable bridge. A connection that reaches across time and space and difficulties and issues and pain and joy. It's what binds people together. I mean, truly binds them together - tying people in couples or in families in unbreakable bonds of affection and regard and deference and admiration and respect and gratitude. It is these golden, bright, gossamer, steel-strong tendrils of light that binds souls together for eternity.

Have you not experienced this love? I have. Rare, precious.

It persists despite the distance, for even the grave cannot sever these ties.

It persists despite time, for time apart makes time together more sweet.

It persists despite periodic disagreements, the way the apple tastes a bit sweeter after a frost.

It persists because it is absolutely vital in the truest, purest sense of that word. It gives life, and makes life worth living.

I love.

I love you.

Comments

Bill Cobabe said…
PS - I know the cat video is a fake. I just think it illustrates the point. Perhaps the fact that it is a fake illustrates the point even better.

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