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L-O-V-E. In all its forms, love is the thesis of our existence.
(The night sky can seem so infinite, its darkness powerful and looming, its vastness alluring. And so I wandered outside tonight. There was something familiar out there, something I wanted to be with. It was Winter’s silence. I stood there for a while, listening to the quiet, hearing and remembering dusty memories…)
Munich, Germany:
Snow fell like glitter from the sky. There was no wind. The night was silent and Winter’s chill, gentle. With the moon as my only companion, I felt alone walking beneath the streetlights. The snow was so soft, not even my footsteps could be heard. It seemed as if the entire world, but me, was tucked away.
I was walking down a storefront street, the trees glowed with lights, and all around was a fresh blanket of snow. And then I saw him. He was huddled in one of the store doorways, dressed in scant and thin clothes, looking worn and disconnected from this world. At first I was scared, but suddenly my feet became not my own, and I walked towards him.
He didn’t move, but I knelt down and gave him my warm clothes and what I had in my wallet. Not knowing what else to do, nor to say, my hand tentatively moved to his, and I said, “I love you.” I’ve never said those words to a stranger, and I’m still not sure what compelled me to say them, but he didn’t feel like a stranger anymore. I don’t know what his mind was like, or if he understood my English, but I’ll never forget his eyes, and what they still tell me today…
Love dwells and pulses within us all. This is our greatest gift in life. And though it is both a steady and tumultuous journey, it cannot be denied that we are most alive when our hearts are conscious of this eclectic treasure.
Love is the gift that makes us more aware of what we have than what we don’t have. It is a gift that shows us how to cherish again and again all the wonderful things in life. And, of course, it’s not what we have in our life, but whom we have in our life, that reciprocates our love and brings us purpose and celebration.
Love is our greatest gift, as well as our greatest mission in life—to love and be loved. This is the greatest thing we’ll ever learn, and ever do. To break open our hearts is to contain the whole universe. Remember this…
Love is everywhere; it is alive every day and grows in every season. If we look for it, we will surely find it. We will find love in our self, and all around us.
Merry Christmas, may we live brightly; may we live in the spirit of love always.
“Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.” ~Mother Teresa
