LOVE AND LOVE Reflections

Many of us have face masks put on in our relationships. We are not “known” by the people who should know us. For us, nobody knows what really goes on within us. Nobody knows what we are thinking. We can never be “predicted”. We portray a different person than we really are. Because we think that is the best way to safeguard ourselves – our identity – in the relationship. However, those who have lovely and lasting relationships have one characteristic in common – and that is openness. They have a certain transparency, allowing people to see what is in their heart. They are open, “clear” and unclouded. They are honest about their feelings, about what they like and do not like. They have nothing to hide from their significant others,  knowing that if they are open, there will be people who cannot keep from loving them. Intimacy without transparency? There has been no loving relationship without intimacy; and there can be no real intimacy without transparency. Without trans...

This is Love in Preference.   To one degree or another, almost everyone prefers him/herself before others. We live in a world that is occupied with a mindset of “self”. We have a culture that teaches us to focus on our appearance, feelings, personal interests and desires as the top priority.  One most important facet of love is unselfishness/selflessness. Love does not seek its own. Loving people are not selfish; they are selfless. The selfless nature of love makes it think about the interest of others.  Selfishness is the Problem If there is ever a word that simply means the opposite of love, then that is selfishness. I have come to realize that selfishness is the basis of all sins that we commit. Make mention of any kind of sin, and the root cause definitely can be traced to be selfishness.  Unfortunately, selfishness is embedded into every person from birth. Selfish persons think first, last and always of themselves. This attitude most clearly appears...