Trying to define love is impossible; it is futile but nonetheless valuable to attempt to define the undefinable and parse the infinite (1 page PDF – a mind-map of “love”).
Even though love is undefinable, it is still worthwhile to try. The process of trying to define the undefinable can bring us greater insight and clarity; it can provide food-for-thought.
In his book The Road Less Traveled, M. Scott Peck says:
“Love is the will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth.”
Spiritual growth is about the deepening of relationship with God (the Universe), others and self.
Love is synonymous with growth.
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The Force Which Counters Entropy
In science, entropy is accepted as the universal force which causes all things to fall into disarray or lower levels of energy and disorder. If entropy were the only force in the universe, how is it that we humans even exist? When viewed from the perspective of physics, humanity is at a fairly high level of energy and order.
So, how’s this for a romantic definition of love?
Love is the universal force that counters entropy.
What is this force which compels us all to grow as individuals, organizations, and humanity?
Love is the force that compels us all to grow.
We are all compelled to grow – people, communities, organizations, companies, countries, and all of humanity.
And if God is love and we are children of God, then we are love, too. Therefore, we are of the force which compels the universe to grow! And:
“Your love is as boundless as His because it is His.”
– A Course in Miracles
If spirit and love are closely linked, perhaps even synonymous, it follows that the purpose of love is love. Perhaps there is no other purpose in life than love.
“Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.”
– Kahlil Gibran in The Prophet.
Love is all-powerful, ever-present, here and now. Use it.
You are all-powerful, ever-present, here and now. Be all you can be. Be boundless.
Be in Love.
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Next Step
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This older webpage summarizes over a decade of reflection on what love is for me. This is a 4-page PDF printout of a prior webpage, containing a few quotes and an earlier mind-map on “love”.
No discussion of “love” would be complete without also talking about “fear” – the opposite of love, or more precisely the absence of love. Read this 2-page PDF What is Our Deepest Fear (with two Peanuts cartoons … just for the fun of it).