3540Love

[evile]

Sep. 14, 2005

 

 

LOVE

Then said Almitra, "Speak to us of Love."

And he raised his head and looked upon the people, and there fell
a stillness upon them. And with a great voice he said: When love
beckons to you, follow him, Though his ways are hard and steep. And
when his wings enfold you yield to him, Though the sword hidden among
his pinions may wound you. And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste
the garden.

For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is
for your growth so is he for your pruning. Even as he ascends to your
height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun, So
shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the
earth. Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself. He threshes
you to make you naked. He sifts you to free you from your husks. He
grinds you to whiteness. He kneads you until you are pliant; And then
he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread
for God's sacred feast.

All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the
secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of
Life's heart.

But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's
pleasure, Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and
pass out of love's threshing-floor, Into the seasonless world where
you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all
of your tears.

Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; For love is sufficient
unto love.

When you love you should not say, "God is in my heart," but
rather, "I am in the heart of God." And think not you can direct the
course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself. But if you love
and must needs have desires, let these be your desires: To melt and be
like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To know the
pain of too much tenderness. To be wounded by your own understanding
of love; And to bleed willingly and joyfully. To wake at dawn with a
winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving; To rest at the
noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy; To return home at eventide with
gratitude; And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your
heart and a song of praise upon your lips.