Love Is....

[Profpat]

I thought a thread on Love might be appropriate for our times.

I believe only Love can unite the world, and therefore is an applicable discussion for TOE.

I would like the members to express their opinion on Love. It may be the physical, mental or spiritual aspect of Love.

It may be a story they wish to share. I know RP has a beautiful story and have high expectations from Austin. It may be a poem or an essay on the subject.

So what do you say can we discuss Love at this Holiday Season?

I'll start by once again posting THE PROPHETS essay on love.

(An excerpt from "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran)

Then said Almitra, Speak to us of Love.
And he raised his head and looked upon the people,
and there fell a stillness upon them.
And with a great voice he said:

When love beckons to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams
as the north wind lays waste the garden.

For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you.
Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest
branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them
in their clinging to the earth.
Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.
He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant:
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire,
that you may become sacred bread for God`s sacred feast.

All these things shall love do unto you
that you may know the secrets of your heart,
and in that knowledge become a fragment of life`s heart.

But if in your fear you would seek only
loves peace and loves pleasure,
Then it is better for you
that you cover your nakedness and
pass out of love`s threshing floor,
Into the seasonless world where you
shall laugh, but not all of your laughter,
and weep, but not all of your tears.
Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself,
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed:
For love is sufficient unto love.

When you love you should not say,
"God is in my heart," but rather,
"I am in the heart of God."
And think not you can direct the course
of love, for love, if it finds you worthy,
directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart
and give thanks for another day of loving:
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love`s ecstasy:
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in you heart
and a song of praise upon you lips.

THE PROPHET

[melanie]

Thanks a million Pat,
What a great idea for a thread,

Love follows Love so i couldn't resist,
my 2 cents
it's short and sweet but what a great film ..

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FSSIgNjb_Wk

oh! just one more,

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=5m2T5y...eature=related

Love.

BRB

[Profpat]

Thanks a million Pat,
What a great idea for a thread,

Love follows Love so i couldn't resist,
my 2 cents
it's short and sweet but what a great film ..

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FSSIgNjb_Wk

oh! just one more,

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=5m2T5y...eature=related

Love.

BRB

Great trailers I saw the movie but the summation is great. A song, a dance, and a kiss.

[neutralino]

I can't stand Hugh Grant! Although, since it's Xmas, my feelings towards him die down a little.

I hope everyone gets to be with those they love for the holiday season. I'm very happy this year, since I'll be spending Xmas with my family, and then flying out to experience an American new year with my girlfriend: so I'll see all my loved ones.

I'm not a poet, so I'll leave that to the more creative members we have. Happy holidays everyone!

[Profpat]

Hi Neutralino;

I think you expressed love perfectly, honest and succint.

I hope you enjoy your trip to America.

I also encourage favorite quotes by Keats, Plato or whomever.

Love I believe is like knowledge; when shared it grows.

Best to all,

Pat

[melanie]

Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together make genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius.
—Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

[mkirkpatrick]

Love is the life principle activated at the relative level to bring about willed intention,that
which IS,is the ocean from which this springs.



regards michael.

[Profpat]

Hi everyone;

I didn't know Mozart was a Lover. Bravo!!

I posted my favorite essay on Love in the 1st post.

My 2nd favorite is from St. Paul:

1 Corinthians 13

Love

1If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Best to all,

Pat

[Profpat]

Chinese Symbol for Love

It is pronounced I or eye. In its center is the Chinese symbol for the heart. Thus I guess symbolizing that Love eminates from the heart.

[Profpat]

*******JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT***********