photo by Ethel Valerio-Navarro |
There are moments when we long to be able to help
someone whom we love very much, when we long to be the bright sunny day that
would take them away from the day’s troubles, but we can do nothing. Circumstances
do not allow us to be with them, or the person is closed to any kind of
assistance or support.
Then all we are left with is love. At such times –
when we can do nothing else – we can remain in love. Without expecting
anything. Reward, change, or appreciation. If we do this, love will begin to
ease away all worries.
I know of a young man who is working out of the
country and he continues to worry that his wife is having another man while he
was away. At last, after two years, he goes home and meets her again. That
moment when he looked into her eyes once more, all worries went away. All
anxieties, nightmares, and fears. This is not meant to gossip. I wrote this
down so we may never forget: perfect love casts out fear.
One thing I learned traveling through life all these
years is that love is ever present in the small things, and manifests itself in
the simplest of actions. It is necessary therefore to remain in love, to keep
it always, regardless of circumstances. To remain in love is to not hold it back,
even when the one you love is not around to experience it.
Picking up the phone and saying the affectionate words
we have been postponing. Opening the door to someone who couldn’t. Asking a
waiter for a glass of water, or the extra chili sauce. Asking forgiveness for
our mistakes and admitting what we have done. Demanding a right that is ours.
Paying our bus fare. Opening a bank account. Closing a bank account. Putting
music on really loud when the person we love is far away. And turning the
volume down when he or she is near. Knowing when to say “yes” and “no”.
Discovering a sport that can be played by two. Knowing when to admit we love
someone with all our heart, mind, and soul. And, of course, telling them. Not
following any formula, not even the ones in this paragraph, because love is
creative.
And when all else fails, when loneliness and worries
still linger because of the beloved’s absence, remember this story.
A flower dreamed day and night for the rain to come,
but nothing fell all through the summer months.
The flower, however, continued to dream. During the
long, warm nights she imagined a heaven full of his drops, which descends to
bestow fond kisses on her. By doing this, she was able to appreciate the grass
around her, show affection to bees flying about, and be friendly to the moon
watching above. She was able to last until the next day, when she would
continue to care for all the busyness around her.
One night, the moon, who knew of the flower’s
loneliness and longing for the rain, asked: “Aren’t you tired of waiting?”
“Possibly, but I have to keep trying.”
“Why?”
“Because if I don’t remain in love, I will simply fade
away. And one day, who knows, rain might come.”
At times, when fear and solitude seem to crush all
beauty, the best thing to do is to remain in love.
Thank you, Raymund, for remaining in Love.
ReplyDeleteThank you also, Rem, for reading.
ReplyDeleteLove bless..