I first read Kahlil Gibran’s, The Prophet, in 1970 I believe it was. I was only 20 years old and what he said about love mystified me because I still believed that love was only joy. I had no life experience yet that allowed me to understand that “joy” has many facets. I believe a part of me actually feared what he said might actually be true. My notion of love was that it was to possess and rightfully so; that it was made up of happiness without sorrow. Time has helped me to grow and I marvel at the fact that, not only do I understand exactly what he is saying, I wholeheartedly agree with him and fully embrace his wisdom.
Kahlil Gibran on Love
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.
Love to you all,
Jeane
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I love this quote and I think it fits here…
“To love and win is the best thing. To love and lose, the next best.”
~ William Thackeray
Yes, exactly. Very beautiful, Kim. Thank you.
Lovely:) Always a gift to read this.
I am sending it to my sister of a different Mother who is working through her love and pain shared with another friend who is holding on tightly to life right now.
She (my friend) has healed from Cancer, recently, and this other woman’s faith will bring her a miracle of cure or not. We never know how long our life is, as said above, love can make those roots to the core of the earth, that can stabilize our balance even when the earths surface may sway and torque and it is the quake that makes the ground roil.
XOXO
Grace
Love does indeed strengthen us all. I send many blessings to you and your friends.