What is Love

Here are today’s philosophical thoughts, (or should I say tonight’s philosophical thoughts, as I’m writing this in the middle of the night, with only the moon outside to keep me company)

Among all the essential questions we ask ourselves while trying to figure out the mysteries of life, there is one that seems to stay with us no matter who we are or what kind of times we live in; the question of love. Not the love we aim to show all our fellow men, the do-onto-others kind of love. I think that is somewhat easier to define. No, I mean the love we have, or hope to find with that one, special person in life. What we often refer to as true love. But what does that really mean? What is true love? How do we know what to look for, and how to know if we have found it? Does it even exist?

What is undoubtedly true is that the concept of love holds different meaning to different people. Simply because people are different. And so each one of us will have to define love for ourselves, and no one else can do that for us.

Although I am certainly no expert on the matter, I do have a few personal thoughts that I’d like to share. I believe love is about finding a soul companion; an equal, a mirror, someone who sees you for what you really are, and still feels no need to change you. Someone who believes in your dreams, who lifts you up and never tries to pull you down or hold you back. Someone who will provide shelter when you feel vulnerable, and encouragement when you’re ready to take on the world. Someone who brightens your day and makes you a better person, who knows that every now and then, silence says what words can not.

So what must we do to find it then? Should we simply go searching for it? Many have tried. Some have succeeded. But I don’t think love needs to be found, or brought to life. I believe it comes to us, in its own way, in its own time. And when it does, we just know that it’s there.

Finally, perhaps the most important thought (or at least, to me, the most honest one); I believe love cannot be given half-heartedly. It has to be everything – or nothing at all. And when we come to realize what love is, what it means to us personally, then we have also learned what it’s not.

Amor Vincit Omnia – True love conquers all

Related thoughts: Definition of Success and Be Who You Must Be

For the Journey of Life

Heavenly Father

Please be with me on my journey

Remind me that I am not alone

I will put my faith and trust in You

Please guide me

As I wish to walk with love

Remind me that what is hidden from me

May still be there, and still be true

Fill my heart with your light

Keep my eyes focused

And my mind persistent

On this journey of life

Why Are We Afraid?

There was an article in the local newspaper yesterday. It started out by asking this question:

Does one have to be less intelligent to believe in God?

The answer, of course, would be no, clearly there is no connection between the two. But as I kept thinking about it; I realized that I must have heard this statement at least a hundred times before. It’s actually quite remarkable; and I’m left with this: Why do so many people seem to believe it; that those who have faith in God must be just a little less intelligent? What might be the answer to that question?

It occurs to me that we, as human beings living in a modern and enlightened world, we demand to have all the answers. We must be in control, continuously. And if we’re not, then we must by all means hide it.

But why are we so afraid to let go of this control? Why can we not admit we don’t know the answer to everything, that there are things we simply don’t understand? Picture this: If we did know the answer to all things, where would that lead us? Would we be able to handle that kind of information? Have we, the human race, proved to be worthy of that? Surely not.

Another question I’ve heard repeatedly is this: If you had a chance to meet God, and you had just one question, what would you ask?

I’m going to be perfectly honest; I don’t think I would have asked any question at all. If I had the privilege of “meeting” God, face to face, I don’t think asking a question even would have crossed my mind. The experience would have been much too powerful for asking questions.

Now, to balance, there is nothing wrong with being curious. On the contrary; searching for answers is a definite and necessary part of human nature, and should not be repressed. After all, that is what makes us move forward; exploring the world around us.

But it needs to be put into perspective; we may not need to find the answer to any question imaginable! Why do we assume that would even be good for us?

Every now and then I hear people referring to “scientific rational thinking”. They do this as if it was the only acceptable way of thinking, based on what can be seen and proven. But science has also been wrong a number of times throughout history. And the most horrendous actions have been taken also in the name of science, wrongly believing they had found the answer.

Clearly you don’t have to be less intelligent to believe in God. But you may have to be a bit receptive, just a tiny bit humble. You must have the ability to keep an open mind; and simply listen.

We don’t have all the answers, that’s a fact. And you know: it’s okay; we don’t need to. What we do need, however, is to have faith that there is more to this world than what is visible to the eye.

What is faith then? Here’s my definition: Faith is having confidence in what you can not see, or prove the existence of, and still you believe it to be true. Or as a friend once said to me: Faith is like a bird that starts to sing in the middle of the night, because it believes in the sunrise.

I believe in God. I have faith in Him. But I don’t see myself as any less intelligent because of this. However, I strive to always keep an open mind. To be receptive.

To be a listener.

Carrying us Home

I have a strange approach to flying. On one hand, I love it. I love the thrill of taking off, I love the sensational feeling of being up there among the blue skies; flying off to something new, I love the moment of landing, putting my feet (or rather; wheels) back on the ground. I’m all in all very fascinated by airplanes and airports. Still, flying scares me to death. Every single time I’m up there, I promise myself that if I only make it through this one journey, I will be so happy to be alive and never put my feet inside a plane again!

On this day on our way back from London, there was some turbulence and the plane was shaking quite a bit. I know of course, the aircraft is built to handle this and a little turbulence is no threat to life and safety. Still it didn’t feel good. And I was already holding my breath a bit, anxiously waiting to put my feet safely on the ground again. Then I looked out the left window, which was the opposite side from where I was seated, and I saw these clouds. I saw the light shine from behind them, and suddenly it became clear to me; I wasn’t alone up in the air. And I closed my eyes, and prayed. I prayed for God to lead me closer to him, to show me the right path to go. And then something strange happened. Suddenly, I could actually feel the power of the airplane. Just a couple of minutes earlier, I had been thinking about how small and helpless the plane were, all by itself high above the ground. But now, I could clearly sense the power, carrying the plane steadily forward. And my next thought was; God is carrying us home. I know it may sound stupid to some, but that’s what it felt like. For the rest of the journey, I let my shoulders down, and rested in Gods power. He carried us home, and when we approached the airport, he put us gently down on the ground again. After we had landed and I reunited with my husband, I found out he had taken this picture of the sun lighted clouds. Immediately I thought; this picture – although it was taken with our small family camera and the quality may not be that good – this is the new image header for my weblog.