91 not 19

They say she’s in a better place,

The angels see her smiling face,

But why can’t I?

They say that God tests the strong,

But in my heart this feels so wrong,

An endless sigh.

I can handle many things,

Like losing diamonds in my ring,

And facing those who turn away,

And chasing hours in my day.

But I can’t handle losing her,

Taken too soon from this world,

I miss her smile, her laugh, her hair,

I reach for her and she’s not there.

They say one day we all must leave,

Our spirits soar, I do believe,

But it would make more sense to me,

If she had left at 91—not 19.

That’s the way it’s supposed to be,

To leave the world at 91—not 19.

Yes, I have a very special dream,

That she had left at 91— not 19.

G

5/19/09

Love never fails?

Love evolves. But it never leaves. Love never dies; it just changes form.

Someone very wise once told me that everyone needs to learn to love on the soul level, without the physical. One soul loving another soul. It transcends time.

I ponder this very famous quote from the bible:

1 Corinthians 13
Love
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If 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. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love 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. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When 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. Now 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.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

It's beautiful. I don't understand it fully. But I think it's very moving.

I just get stuck on one line: Love never fails.

What about break ups? What about divorce? What about when friendships--or other relationships--end or become strained? What about death? Or the ultimate of all heartbreak, when love kills. Because love can be the death of us--literally and figuratively.

So then what is unconditional love? At what point are we to stop loving? Do we hide away from love for fear of being hurt?

The ultimate mystery. But not really a mystery. I think we know the answer on some level.