Love is................

“Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, is not pompous. It is not inflated. It is not rude. It does not seek its own interests. It is not quick-tempered. It does not brood over injury. It does not rejoice over wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”      - 1 Corinthians 13 -

Happy Valentines Day, everyone.  Yesterday I had the distinct honor of escorting my daughter and her friend to see the Texas Ballet Theater's rendition of  William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.  If you have not had the privilege of indulging yourself in this classic tale, I recommend it highly. 

Briefly, Romeo and Juliet fall in love despite the fact that Juliet is betrothed to another.  Romeo and Juliet are secretly married, but then through a bizarre set of circumstances, Romeo must flee the city.  Juliet's parents begin to pressure her to wed Paris, the man her family has arranged for her to marry.  Juliet finally agrees to the wedding, but with the help of the local Fryar, plans to stage her own death, whereby her parents would bury her in the family tomb where she could  THEN be rescued by Romeo.   There was only one small problem with this little plan.  The word never got to Romeo.  Romeo returned to town to find his beloved.  What he found was Juliet in a deep sleep meant to mirror death.  Believing it so, Romeo drank poison resulting in HIS death.  Juliet awakes, finds Romeo dead and then stabs herself.  She dies in Romeos arms.

I've heard the story before, but yesterday was the first time I'd seen the story put to dance.  No dialogue, just graceful dancers telling the story of secret love.  I know I was a guy at a ballet with two pre-teen girls, but I cried.  I don't think anyone saw me.  At least I hope not.  But here's the thing.  I'm still trying to sort out what it is I cried about.  Was it the fact that two people in love were not able to share their life together?  Was it the shock that people would go to such length to end their suffering over lost love?  Was it the fact that the entire scenario could have been avoided by just being honest?  Or was it just a moving piece that I need not overanalyze?  Easy for YOU to say!

The dictionary I searched online gives 28 different definitions and idioms for the word "love".  What IS love?  The older I get the more I wonder if I really know.  Hell, even Webster can't figure it out!  Is it that warm feeling you get when you first see someone, the excitement, or that pit in your stomach?  Is it longing when they're away?  Or is love an action?  Is it buying flowers and cards or cleaning out the garage or helping with dishes?  Or maybe, love is just a chemical reaction...........a coming together of pheromones that make two people want to be together.   Maybe love is that parental thing I have for my daughters.  I can't describe it, but I'd lay down my life for either of them without a moments hesitation.

The truth is, I'm not really sure exactly what love emcompasses.  I think perhaps maybe it's all those things.......feelings, chemicals, actions.  I do know that what love means to me might be entirely different for someone else.  I think I like the Apostle Paul's letter to the Corinthians best because it defines what love is NOT.  With over 28 definitions of what love IS, maybe what it isn't is just easier. 

I have been so blessed in this life to both give and receive "love".  Some go their entire life without that honor.  I'm puzzled still by Romeo and Juliet, who would rather die than be apart.  Is that true love or was it just youth that couldn't see beyond the moment to a life where maybe they COULD be together?   I don't know.....it just makes my head hurt.  This is what I truly want to say.........................

On this Valentines Day, may you be privileged to be with the one you love.  And if you can't be with them, to feel the comfort of knowing your ARE loved, whatever your definition may be.